It’s official: Suaalii seals multimillion-dollar deal with Australian rugby

“Welcome back to rugby, Joseph.”

With that statement from Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan on Saturday evening, the Joseph Suaalii code swap was official.

The Suaalii circus is over, with the young Roosters star officially walking away from the NRL at the end of 2024 to take up a three-year, multimillion-dollar contract with the NSW Waratahs and RA.

In a monster deal, of a similar scale to Israel Folau in 2013, Suaalii is set to become one of the highest-paid players in Australian rugby history, on a per-season basis.

The 19-year-old will be eligible for the Wallabies in late 2024 and is expected to be parachuted into Eddie Jones’ national squad for Australia’s end-of-year tour to Europe in November that year.

Suaalii will be eligible to play for the Wallabies in the 2025 British and Irish Lions series, which takes place every 12 years on Australian soil.

Joseph Suaalii will make the switch to rugby union at the end of 2024.Credit: Getty

RA has been hunting Suaalii’s signature since he was a schoolboy rugby prodigy and key figures were delighted at the news on Saturday afternoon once receiving confirmation from the teenager’s camp.

Jones and Waratahs coach Darren Coleman both said on Friday they were not involved in Suaalii’s contract discussions.

“I’ve got no idea mate,” Jones told reporters on Friday. “I’m only worried about this World Cup.”

Coleman, speaking after the Waratahs’ loss to the Chiefs on Friday evening, said: “I haven’t been involved with Joseph. I haven’t met the guy, nor spoke to him.”

Joseph Suaalii was a schoolboy rugby prodigy before playing NRL for the Roosters.Credit: Getty

A lot can change in 24 hours.

Suaalii is poised to play his Super Rugby for the Waratahs, in a move similar to Folau in 2013.

His position on the field – either at fullback or wing – will be hotly debated in the 18 months before he officially switches codes.

“So happy for Joseph as such a wonderful ambassador for rugby,” McLennan told the Herald. “It will be electric to see him play for the Waratahs and wear Wallaby gold for Australia.”

Eddie Jones is expected to parachute Suaalii into the Wallabies’ end-of-year tour to Europe in November 2024.Credit: Cole Bennetts

McLennan declined to comment when quizzed on the value of Suaalii’s three-year deal.

Shortly after, RA released a statement confirming the news that had been floated earlier this week.

“Rugby Australia (RA) and the NSW Waratahs today announced that they have signed Joseph Suaalii from October 2024 until at least the end of 2027,” the statement read. “Per RA policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

“Growing up in Penrith, Joseph Suaalii was a schoolboy rugby prodigy for The King’s School, representing the GPS 1st XV as well as NSW and Australian Schoolboys in rugby sevens. He also played rugby for Penrith RSL, Eastwood and Northern Barbarians.”

After days of speculation, the Roosters were informed by Suaalii’s management on Saturday afternoon he would not be continuing with the club in 2025.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis rarely lets young talent slip away but, on this occasion, Suaalii’s dream of pulling on a Wallabies jersey meant he was always destined to end up in the 15-man game at some stage.

“The management of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii have informed the Sydney Roosters that he will be departing the club at the end of his current contract term,” a statement from the Roosters said. “Suaalii is contracted to the Roosters until the conclusion of the 2024 NRL season.”

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan.Credit: Peter Rae

The 19-year-old was hotly pursued by rugby during his high school years but decided to play in the NRL.

Suaalii recently signed a one-year extension with the Roosters for 2024.

“Joseph has been transparent with the club and we respect his decision,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said. “He has made his commitment to the Roosters club for the next year and a half crystal clear, and we’re excited about the path we’re on.”

Suaalii said in a statement: “The Sydney Roosters have been great to me and my family since I got here and the club is always going to be a big part of me. There’s still a long way to go in my journey with the Roosters and my sole focus is on working hard every day to keep improving and performing my role for the team.”

As RA trumpeted a win over their rival code, NRL boss Andrew Abdo said he was not concerned by Suaalii’s exit.

“Good luck to any player who wants to go and play another code, that’s great for them,” Abdo said. “Good luck to any other code, if they are thinking about a rugby league pathway to access talent. What I love about this game is how many talented athletes we keep producing.”

Signing Suaalii until the end of the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted in Australia, is a major coup for RA. The governing body will be hoping for a return on its investment by the time the tournament takes place on Australian shores for the first time since 2003.

NSW adviser Greg Alexander said Suaalii would still be considered for the Blues in State of Origin.

“All this news means is Joey won’t be playing Origin in 2025 because that’s when he will be playing rugby,” Alexander said. “Right now he’s playing league, so he will be considered. The fact he’s going to rugby will have nothing to do with him not being picked. He’s a very impressive young man.”

NSW and Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr famously - and unsuccessfully - called for Israel Folau to be ineligible for Queensland selection in 2010 after he had announced he would join AFL newcomers GWS Giants the following season.

Sydney Roosters teammate Luke Keary was happy for his teammate late Saturday, but earlier in the day admitted he would not be surprised if Suaalii tried to emulate Sonny Bill Williams by trying to win an NRL premiership, switching codes before an NRL return.

“I think we’re about to see a Sonny Bill-esque type of career – he finishes that World Cup, if he goes, and he’ll be 24 years old, and hopefully we see him again in the NRL,” Keary told Triple M.

Keary said he was “very confident” Suaalii would honour his deal and remain at Bondi in 2024.

“He has a really good support network, he’s very sure of himself, he’s a very confident kid, he’s very smart ... he’s taken up the [2024] option for a reason, and once he’s done that, he’s free to do what he wants,” Keary said.

With Christian Nicolussi

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