Joseph Suaalii was the ‘best schoolboy talent ever seen’, which is why he’s ready for Wallabies

The Wallabies are ranked ninth in the world – and failed for the past two decades. So why hold Joseph Suaalii back now? JAMIE PANDARAM explains why he is ready for rugby’s cauldron.

There was a global talent scout on the sidelines at Scots College on July 27, 2019, watching play unfold in a Sydney schoolboys rugby game.

Scots were leading Kings 15-0 at halftime.

Then Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii decided something needed to happen. The Kings player stopped waiting for the ball out wide and came looking for action.

“It was extraordinary, he was 15 years old, and he just owned the game,” the scout said.

Suaalii scored a brilliant individual try, and set up another. In the end, Scots held on for a 15-14 victory.

“But it was clear he was the best player on the field by a mile,” said the scout, who then decided to follow Suaalii’s games.

“I saw the Curry brothers (Tom and Ben) who now play for England, at Oundle (College in Northamptonshire), they were exceptional.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was a freak as a schoolboy.

Now-England star Tom Curry was another schoolboy sensation. Picture: Getty

“Rieko Ioane at Auckland Grammar was a freak, Victor Vito at Scots College Wellington was a freak. Beauden Barrett in New Plymouth, you knew he was going to be something, fast, skilful.

“But I have never seen a better talent on a schoolboy rugby field than Joseph, anywhere in the world.”

The scout never could get Suaalii’s signature. But he still stands by his assessment today.

So when the news emerged that Suaalii would be picked to start for the Wallabies in his international debut against England, just four weeks after his first training session with the squad, questions surrounding the decision need to be considered with this history in mind.

Suaalii has risen to every challenge presented in his career thus far, so why would the 21-year-old buckle now?

There have been claims that selecting him cheapens the Wallabies jersey.

But the Sydney Roosters asked the NRL for a special age-restriction dispensation to allow him to play first grade as a 17-year-old. Did that cheapen the Roosters jersey? Hardly.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii earned special dispensation to allow him to play for the Roosters as a 17-year-old. Picture: NRL Photos

The Wallabies are ranked ninth in the world. Regardless of how the Spring Tour goes, they will be the lowest ranked team a touring Lions side has ever faced.

And this at a time where Ireland is the world’s No.1, while England (five) and Scotland (seven) are also ahead of the Australians.

So no solid case can be made that there are players more deserving of the jersey than Suaalii, when the team has repeatedly failed.

They finished last in The Rugby Championship, lost by a record margin to Argentina, and now have a player at their disposal who is being paid a record salary of $5.35 million over the next three years.

Joseph-Aukuso Sua'alii is ready now. So why wait? Picture: Getty

Why wait, when the British & Irish Lions tour next year and Suaalii will be a key part of the Wallabies attack.

He’ll make mistakes. Of course he will.

But Wallabies fans have been used to that for two decades.

And Suaalii has the ability to break games open like nobody else in the squad.

He needs experience in the Test cauldron, there is no quicker way to learn than by doing.

Playing State of Origin for NSW – albeit seven minutes before he was sent off for a high tackle on Reece Walsh – starring in a rugby league World Cup final against the Kangaroos, and featuring in the NRL playoffs for the Roosters has prepared Suaalii for the mental rigours of a Twickenham Test.

He won’t shrink in the arena.

Originally published as Joseph Suaalii was the ‘best schoolboy talent ever seen’, which is why he’s ready for Wallabies