‘Suaalii is just a next level weapon’

Rugby Australia is set to reignite the ‘code war’ with the NRL as the organisation’s chair Hamish McLennan confirmed he will chase the signature of Roosters teen sensation Joseph Suaalii.

Sydney Roostes teen sensation Joseph Suaalii is in the sights of Rugby Australia. Picture: Getty Images.

Rugby Australia is set to reignite the “code war” with the NRL as the organisation’s chair Hamish McLennan confirmed he will chase the signature of Roosters teen sensation Joseph Suaalii, using the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and 2027 World Cup as bait.

McLennan told The Australian that Suaalii is the No.1 target for the Wallabies, and with RA intent on cementing a private equity deal in the coming months, he hopes to the millions of dollars needed to lure top NRL players such as the Roosters star.

“We were sad to lose Joseph to league, but there’s an incredible pathway through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, if he and others want it,” McLennan said.

“We have to do the private equity deal, get some money in the bank, but yes, we absolutely will be targeting league stars.”

Suaalii, who has been outstanding on the right wing for the Roosters in just his second NRL season, is contracted to the Roosters for the next two seasons but has get-out clauses that enables him to switch teams or codes.

In his contract, the 18 year old has an option in his favour at the end of each season that allows him to join a rival club or return to rugby.

The Wallabies have a history of successfully poaching league talent such as representative stars ­Timana Tahu, Israel Folau, Karmichael Hunt and Suliasi Vunivalu.

Australian rugby union raided the NRL’s ranks before the 2003 World Cup tilt on home soil, with stars Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri joining the Wallabies. Sailor, a dual international, said Rugby Australia setting its sights on Suaalii was a “no-brainer” for the code.

“I have seen what he’s done this year for the Roosters and he is just a next level weapon,” Sailor said.

“Yeah, I just think like anything, rugby union, (has) got to be very smart who they o after … but I just think Suaalii, it’s a no-brainer.

“He’ll play anywhere in that Wallabies backline and I think people know how hard he’s worked on his game, and he’s what, 19?

“No wonder they couldn’t stop him in schoolboys, because just look at him now, he’s putting shots on guys like (Penrith forward) Viliame Kikau. You don’t do that when you’re 19.”

Suaalii who has made clear his dream to one day play in the No.1 jersey – but currently sits behind two of the best in the game in Roosters skipper James Tedesco and NZ’s No.1 Joey Manu – was recently asked about his future at the club and if wanted to play in that position.

“I’m happy to do whatever for the team, be it on the wing, centre, fullback, even five-eighth – I’ll play anywhere,” Suaalii said last weekend. “I’m behind two of the best fullbacks in the game with Tedesco and Joey, so it will be hard to play fullback.”

When pushed on whether he would entertain the chance to play fullback at another NRL club, Suaalii said: “I love it here, and if I could I’d be here forever – I love this club.”

Sailor said after seeing him star for the Roosters and make the Origin squad, he had no doubt the teen had the makings of being a bona fide super star in either code.

“He stands at 196cm, he’s probably going to put on a bit more muscle, but he’s a streamlined athlete, that’s a different physique, build to Lote (Tuqiri) and Israel Folau,” Sailor said.

“I tell you what he’s got – that people need to understand – is that his footy IQ is very high, that’s why when he goes back to fullback, I know Izzy did some good things and Lote did some good things and Mat Rogers but this guy? This guy has got it all.

“You could build a team around him and he could be there for a very long time in either code.

“But obviously, the Wallabies, we shouldn’t have lost to England this year but if you have someone like (Suaalii) in there, he’s your X-factor. You pay your money for your X-factors. He has proven himself already, he made the New South Wales Origin squad at the age of 18.”

It was in 2020 that Rugby Australia – under a different leadership – made a failed pitch for his services.

RA’s offer was reported to be less than the $1.7m South Sydney had offered over three years.

RA’s offer to Suaalii, who started playing rugby union at 11 in the GPS system, included the prospect of playing professional rugby with the NSW Waratahs and a shot at the 2021 Olympics in the Sevens squad.

Suaalii, who attended the prestigious King’s School at Parramatta in Sydney’s west, but dreamt of playing rugby league, was on a development contract with Souths, who were desperate to elevate the teen star to its senior squad.

Despite being flown by private jet to South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe’s Nana Glen property, and going quad-biking around the Hollywood star’s 400-hectare property – Suaalii ultimately signed with the Rabbitohs’ bitter rivals the Roosters.

Aside from having the opportunity to be part of a winning and strong culture under coach Trent Robinson, the Tricolours were willing to provide get-out clauses in the contract while Souths were not.

Also, in a move to make sure Suaalii did not go to rugby union, the NRL changed it rules to allow the teen to play first grade several weeks before his 18th birthday.

Suaalii was nurtured by Robinson, who held him back from top grade, despite the club suffering from a crippling injury toll. He eventually played five NRL games in 2021 before a Lisfranc injury ended his season.

Under Robinson’s leadership, the young player has thrived and Suaalii hasn’t been quiet about how much he enjoys being part of the Eastern Suburbs club’s famed culture.

Wrestling the teen student away from the Roosters, who is studying business administration and global studies at Australian Catholic University, will be a challenge going off his recent response to being asked if he would leave the Tricolours.

In May he produced a breakout performance in the Roosters’ win over Parramatta in Magic round, where his incredible aerial skills were on display. He finished with 155 run metres from 18 runs, producing two line-breaks and crossed for two tries. For all the glitz, it was his work ethic that Robinson praised.

“The toughness and the class that he showed in that game for an 18-year-old was very special,” Robinson said.

A dedicated, formal chase for Suaalii’s signature is expected to occur once Rugby Australia shores up its financial future.

The once beleaguered code is on the way back, with Rugby Australia set to kick off talks to raise $150m or more from private equity within weeks, as it also considers a fresh loan from a US investment firm to tie it over in the short term.

RA, which hopes to turn a small profit this year, is set to formally meet with global private equity giants CVC and Silver Lake in August in what could be the latest move by private equity into Australian sport.

For Sailor, a fan of both codes, he says whoever lands Suaalii will benefit greatly.

“I would not want to see him leave league, but I also want to see the Wallabies go all right just quietly too,” Sailor said.