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Former Wallabies react to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s stunning Test debut
By Finn Morton
Former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles believes Rugby Australia’s marquee recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is worth every cent of his multi-year deal. Suaalii hadn’t played Super Rugby or even Shute Shield before donning Wallaby gold but went on to deliver a Test debut for the ages.
In March last year, Suaalii put pen to paper on a deal reportedly worth $5.3 million to jump codes from the NRL. The then 19-year-old was touted as a generational figure that RA was keen to secure the services of ahead of a decisive period for the sport Down Under.
Suaalii went on to represent Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup and later played seven minutes of State of Origin for New South Wales. But after a recent switch to the 15-player game, the man himself is firmly focused on what lies ahead in Wallaby gold.
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The then-uncapped Wallabies prospect modelled the national team’s jersey for the 2025 British and Irish Lions Series before speaking with reporters in Sydney last month. Suaalii has always wanted to be a Wallaby and is excited by the prospect of playing the Lions next year.
No Australian rugby player has had this level of hype surrounding them in quite some time, but Suaalii appears up to the task. Suaalii debuted in Wallaby gold in last weekend’s 42-37 win over England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, receiving Player of the Match honours afterwards.
“It’s a quality signing and it’s at the right price at the moment, I don’t care what people say,” Hoiles said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts
“The value we’ve got off-field, and it’s only been matched in one game, don’t want to get too hyped up about how good he’s going to be but the attributes that he has an individual, it’s going to be very different for teams to start analysing and stopping how he plays.
“Len Ikitau had his best (performance) in a Wallaby jersey for probably two seasons, do you think that’s a coincidence? Or the fact that he’s got a guy like Joseph outside him.
“When you’ve got a player who’s that tall and he’s got an over skip and an overs offload and a basketball offload, I think it just changes so much on the way that teams have to start defending him and we’re in for a really good run with that young man.”
Suaalii stole the show at the venue formerly known as Twickenham from early on, with the 21-year-old impressing with some quality touches. The Wallaby leapt above England’s Maro Itoje to help the visitors secure a restart early on, which in itself is no easy feat.
With quick hands and some determined stops on defence, the Wallabies’ latest debutant continued to make his mark. Suaalii’s crowning moment was a brilliant ‘basketball’ offload to Tom Wright to set up Australia’s opening try of the contest.
The influence of Rugby Australia’s big name recruit seemed to have an impact on others wearing Wallaby gold too, including midfield partner Len Ikitau. Ikitau was right up there with the team’s best, which included a stunning flick pass to assist Max Jorgensen’s match-winning try.
“I thought he was great. How do you do that? First game of professional rugby union was great,” four-time John Eales Medallist Michael Hooper went on to explain later in the show.
“His touches, he didn’t get tackled pretty much the whole game, try set up, restarts… that is such a big factor, such a big factor. That leap he did from a mile out, it was like the (Michael) Jordan jump and gets it back.
“It’s actually a safe play to kick to him. It’s high probability you get it back.”
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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