Super Rugby tougher than international game, says Suaalii after Waratahs debut

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii experienced the intensity of four Wallabies games before he made his debut for the Waratahs in their thrilling one-point Super Rugby round one victory over the Highlanders in Sydney on Friday night.

But when asked to compare international and club games, the Waratahs fullback said Super Rugby was tougher.

Suaalii played 66 minutes at Allianz Stadium before leaving the field with cramp.

“I reckon the intensity, it was more here – that’s Super Rugby,” Suaalii said.

“If I’m being quite honest, I was talking to [Waratahs captain] Jake Gordon about it; just the ball in play, the contact and the boys were ready to play today, the Highlanders boys.

“I got hit a couple of times. It was good. It’s a high level of footy we’re playing here, especially against those Kiwi boys ... I’m just glad we got the win.”

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is hammered by the Highlanders’ Taine Robinson on Friday night.Credit: Getty Images

Suaalii sat in the press room at Allianz Stadium smiling but equally exhausted, holding Valentine’s Day gifts from fans and a large commemorative garland from his family to mark his Waratahs debut.

He also had some of his former Roosters teammates in the crowd. They would have recognised his fast footwork, but perhaps would have been surprised to see he had to make a couple of tackles as a fullback.

The Highlanders and the Waratahs swapped the lead eight times in the second half, with Suaalii helpless on the sideline as replacement prop Siosifa Amone crashed over the try line with two minutes left on the clock to win the game.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii had a mixed night in the air at fullback.Credit: Getty Images

Suaalii paid tribute to Amone, who scored twice in the second half to clinch the win. The tight-head prop has become a popular figure in the Waratahs’ changing room after he shed more than 20kg during pre-season training due to an intense program.

“Speaking on Sifa, that was his moment,” Suaalii said. “He’s been working hard since September last year. I think he came in overweight [to pre-season]. He was pretty heavy, and he just worked every single day.

“You know that energy he brings towards a group, so it was good just to see someone like Sifa in our group, who is so vital to our group, score two tries and win us a game, so it was a special moment for our group.”

Suaalii’s performance at fullback was mixed. After a subline take from a Gordon kick early in the game, the former Rooster was disappointed to miss other aerial chances, including one after five minutes that led to the Highlanders’ first try through winger Caleb Tangitau.

“There were a couple of times when I was out of position, but other than that, I actually enjoyed being able to see the game from 15 [fullback], and just being able to scan and see from a different perspective from centre,” Suaalii said. “But obviously, there a lot of things to work on.

“It’s more running compared to centre, where you’re tackling a little bit more. So, yeah it was a lot of high-speed running, so I still need to get the Ks [kilometres] into my legs.”

Last year, the Waratahs failed to win close games, but after just one game in 2025 they have managed to shake that losing habit at Allianz Stadium.

The Waratahs have a bye in round two before facing the Fijian Drua in Sydney in two weeks’ time. Suaalii knows how important momentum is for this team after some very lean years.

“If you say you lose this game today, you’ve got two weeks to think about it, whereas, you know, a win’s a win, so you gotta take it – it’s good for the mentals,” he said.

“I feel like it’s just good going to the bye being able to relax, and then obviously there’s a lot of work on from the game, but we’re back on Wednesday and being able to, you know, just dissect that and then we’re into playing the Fijian [Drua] team.”