V’landys takes swipe at rugby after Suaalii switch — and claims he’ll return to NRL
Peter V’landys has taken a brutal swing at rugby union after news emerged of Joseph Suaalii’s bombshell code swap.
ARLC Commission chairman Peter V’landys has taken a swing at rugby union in the wake of Joseph Suaalii’s bombshell code swap on Saturday.
Suaalii will leave the Roosters at the end of next season, giving him the chance to don the green and gold for the Wallabies when they host the British and Irish Lions down under in 2025 – a rare tour which happens every dozen years.
But V’landys believes the 19-year-old will get ‘terribly bored’ in union and will return to the NRL in the future.
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“It’s hard to blame Joseph for going to rugby and considering it as his future when he is going to be paid twice the money for doing half the work,” V’landys told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“In rugby they play around 33 minutes per match, but in league the ball is in play for 57 minutes, so it would be a lot easier to earn your money.
“Besides, I really think that after Joseph plays rugby for a little while he will get terribly bored and return to rugby league. That’s what the majority of the players who switch codes do.”
Suaalii’s drawn out saga over his playing future finally came to a head on Saturday when he penned a three-year deal to join the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Australia.
Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan had a simple statement to herald the news: “Welcome back to rugby, Joseph.”
The deal will see him with the Wallabies through the British and Irish Lions 2025 tour and the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and is reportedly one of the richest deals in Australian rugby history.
Originally published as V’landys takes swipe at rugby after Suaalii switch — and claims he’ll return to NRL
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