Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s candid take on Super Rugby Pacific debut

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has warned he’s only scratching the surface after offering a breathtaking glimpse of his immense potential in an eye-catching Super Rugby Pacific debut for the NSW Waratahs.

While less than perfect, Suaalii’s golden touches proved the difference in the Waratahs’ last-gasp 37-36 escape against the Highlanders on Friday night.

From the second minute when he soared high to reel in a Jake Gordon box kick, Australian rugby’s marquee $5 million man was the most influential player at Allianz Stadium as last year’s new-look wooden spooners opened their 2025 campaign in desperately needed winning fashion.

He contested – and more often than not won – almost every high ball, made a one-on-one try-saving tackle, a 30-metre midfield burst and almost danced through four defenders to score a magical try on debut.

Yet Suaalii conceded he was far from the finished product in what was the 21-year-old’s first rugby outing playing fullback since his schoolboy days.

“It was good,” he said after lasting 67 minutes before cramping up.

“A couple of times I was out of position but, other than that, I actually enjoyed being able to see the game from at 15 and just being able to see a different perspective than from centre.

“But obviously a lot of things to work on and the constant high-speed running compared to where you’re tackling more (in the centres) so I need to get some miles in my legs, but it was good.”

Some 16,034 fans fronted up, almost 3000 more than the Waratahs’ biggest home crowd of 2024, and most likely they came to get a look at the side’s prized signing.

Even half a dozen of Suaalii’s former Sydney Roosters teammates turned out, making it a special occasion for the 21-year-old pin-up boy.

“Yeah, very enjoyable,” Suaalii said.

“It’s good to be playing back at Allianz. I don’t live too far away, so it’s it’s a place where I call home so it’s good, great to be back playing here.

“Honestly, the reason I played the game is because I love the game and I love that my whole family get to come to the game and friends and all that come together.”

The cross-code superstar even received some Valentine’s Day flowers from fans and promised to keep delivering as he transitions back to the 15-man game.

“I feel like I’m just learning where to insert myself, how I can get the ball,” Suaalii said.

“Even just kicking. But this is a great thing about rugby. I’m loving just the aspect of growing my game.

“I know I’m good in the air, I know I can kick, I know I can pass, I know I can run.

“But just building all the different aspects of my game kind of thing.”

Suaalii wasn’t the only impressive debutant.

Powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou put in a tireless 46-minute shift and threw a beautiful long ball to put fellow Waratahs first-gamer Rob Leota for a crucial first-half try that kick-started the home side’s comeback.

It was also a winning debut for new coach Dan McKellar, who now has a fortnight to reset his charges for the Fijian Drua, also in Sydney, following a second-round bye.

“At this level, whenever you get the opportunity to have some time away and some balance, you’ve got to take it, whether it’s the 10th game in or whether it’s the first game in,” McKellar said.

“Whilst we haven’t played a whole lot of games, we’ve been training hard for a long period of time.

“So the boys will get Monday, Tuesday off this week, and then we’ll be in Wednesday, Thursday, and we’ll train hard and then start our week’s preparation for Fiji on the following Sunday.”