Joseph Suaalii joins Wallabies camp, ready for pressure to deliver on $5 million contract

Star rugby union recruit Joseph Suaalii has declared he’s ready to play for the Wallabies in just three weeks – as he opened up on the pressures of his multimillion dollar contract.

Australian rugby’s $5 million man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has welcomed the pressure of his record deal, and declared he is ready to play for the Wallabies or Australia XV team in three weeks.

Having finished his duties with NRL club Sydney Roosters, 21-year-old Suaalii officially joined Wallabies camp in Canberra, where a throng of journalists gathered to witness the start of one of the highest profile code switches in history.

Suaalii is signed to a three-year, $5.25 million deal, with an option in his favour to extend for a further two years in a deal potentially worth nearly $9 million. It is one of the biggest football contracts in Australian sport, and that will bring with it enormous pressure for Suaalii to deliver on the field.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii trains with the Wallabies in Canberra. Photo by Rugby Australia

“I’m ready for that, as a young kid coming through the NRL I feel like I had a lot of eyes on me coming through,” Suaalii said.

“So it’s not different, I’m keeping everything simple, sticking to the process of training every day, getting better every day and just learning from my teammates.

“I want to be the best player I can be.”

And Suaalii is set to get his first taste of rugby in the top ranks with strong suggestions he’ll play for the Australia XV team against Bristol Bears on November 8, as part of a northern hemisphere tour that will also see the Wallabies play a Grand Slam against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

“If they throw me in, I’m ready to go,” Suaalii said.

“I’ve always backed myself playing footy. I’ll always back myself going against anyone, I’m very confident in my ability to play.

“Where ever Joe puts me, I’ll just put my head down and learn as much as I can and just play footy.”

Suaalii shrugged off criticism he received after signing his incredible rugby deal, particularly from league fans who claimed he’ll be bored in union.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii trains with the Wallabies in Canberra. Photo by Rugby Australia

“At the end of it, it’s just my life and my dreams and what I want to do with my life,” Suaalii said.

“Obviously everyone is going to have an opinion on it, which is respected, but at the end of the day what I want to do is come play for the Waratahs and Wallabies.

“That’s the goal and the aim, and to win games.”

While the Wallabies are languishing at an all-time low of 10th in the world rankings, Suaalii is desperate to be part of the rebuild.

“Everyone wants to win, all the boys. I feel like I’m a competitor, and that’s what I want to do, is win,” he said.

“I feel like that’s a natural thing this group wants to do, I feel like I can bring my competitiveness on the field, and it starts by training every day, getting in there and competing.

“And I’ll slowly progress into the games.”

Suaalii finished up his NRL career with a defeat to the Melbourne Storm. Picture: Getty

Suaalii chatted to Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt following training, but has not identified a preferred position as speculation grows that he will play in the centres for the Waratahs next year.

“I’ve always been open to playing centre, wing, fullback,” Suaalii said.

“If the coach puts me anywhere, I feel like I’m just a footy player at the end of the day, any position I’m ready to play. I don’t really have a preferred position.”

Suaalii feels particularly ready for the code switch following his stint at the Roosters.

“I feel like I’ve learnt from a lot of players like Joey Manu, Daniel Tupou, Jared [Waerea-Hargreaves], Luke Keary, I feel like I’ve taken their strengths and see how I can implement them into this team,” the former Australian rugby schoolboy star said.

“Obviously be myself, but see the success of those boys and how I can bring that [here].

“It’s about learning each day, just sitting down and going through film and little things to learn, but I’ve played the game before and I’m very confident in my abilities.

“I know a lot of the lads like Angus Bell, Billy Pollard, so I’m just hanging around them and trying to meet all the new players I haven’t met yet.”

Originally published as Joseph Suaalii joins Wallabies camp, ready for pressure to deliver on $5 million contract