1
'Knocked the big dog off': How Joseph Suaalii has impacted the Wallabies off the pitch
By AAP
The Lions coach loved watching him, his teammates were left awed by him - and the Wallabies' biggest comedian was even upstaged by him.
So welcome back to rugby, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii ... this really was a debut international tour to remember and relish.
After featuring in all four northern tour games, winning a man-of-the-match gong on debut, succumbing to injury while handing out a "humungous" hit against Scotland, and then returning to trouble Ireland, Suaalii did his best to live up to all the hype surrounding his $5m switch from the NRL.
Yet it's the glowing verdict of both teammates and opponents alike that really told the tale of his remarkable month when the 21-year-old morphed from absolute beginner into an absolute menace to international defences.
Considering his veritable baptism of fire, chucked into the maelstrom of a European tour after not playing a game of rugby for five years since his schooldays, his teammates could hardly credit just how quickly he slotted in - on and off the pitch.
"I don't know if throwing someone in the deep end is the best way, but certainly it's worked pretty well for us," said an admiring Andrew Kellaway.
"We're pretty happy to have him. The first part about Joe is he is incredible, what a professional!
"He's 21 years old, and the kid is on his stuff, studying the game, his stretching, his rehabbing, his recovering, he's every bit the professional, and he's certainly rubbed that off on a lot of our guys.
"You've certainly seen a lot more guys starting to do that sort of stuff, which is really cool, and I think a really big pat on the back for him. He's come straight in, made a difference, and added value.
"Then you go onto the field, and the guy's a freak, right? Lots of shades of Israel (Folau) there.
"We're super glad to have him. I don't know how he found this tour. I think he enjoyed it, I hope he did, but he's fitted into the group well.
"He's a great guy. Very, very funny. He's certainly built himself into our team, and we feel like we're close with him now."
Hinting that Suaalii had good line in banter, Kellaway smiled: "I'm not going to say it's good - but he's gone straight after 'The Jester', he's gone after (halfback) Jake Gordon!
"So that's like going after the man at the top of the pyramid, in terms of comedic value. So he's come in hot; he's knocked the big dog off his perch.
"He's been good, he's been great. And, the cool thing for him is he gets to start his rugby journey in a place where rugby is so healthy.
"For Su to come in and see what the game can provide him that other games can't, it's just been really, really exciting to be a part of."
Another teammate Rob Valetini enthused equally: "He's done well. Only four games into rugby union, and all four have been internationals. I'm proud of him for taking that step.
"A lot of the boys around him have been helping him as well, so, yeah, a good report card - and now I've just got to look out for him in Super Rugby. His game is only to get better."
Ireland coach - and, as from today, full-time Lions coach - Andy Farrell is well aware of that too, knowing what havoc Suaalii is capable of unleashing, particularly with his aerial prowess next year, even if he was delighted his Irish side managed to nullify it on Saturday.
"As a rugby league player, he was awesome. I used to love watching him play, especially in the State of Origins, etc.," said Farrell, once a rugby league colossus himself with Wigan.
"When he gets comfortable and he's not having to think too much - because that's where he'll be at this moment in time as it's tough transferring over from league - his skill-set is there for us all to see.
"He's a confident kid, and he's some athlete as well, so he's certainly a good addition to rugby, good for us all to watch."
And for once in his fledgling rugby career, Suaalii wasn't the centre of attention this week, with Ireland only apparently having eyes for Joe Schmidt.
"We had to put our arm around him, say 'it's all right, mate, the cameras will be back, don't worry'," laughed Kellaway.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Richie Mo'unga lifts lid on '27 World Cup hopes
3
Bath face nervous wait on England's lock injury news
4
Sharks player ratings vs Leinster | 2024/25 URC
5
Latest Comments
VERIFIED CRYPTOCURRENCY RESTORATION/FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY.
As a designer, I’m always on the lookout for new tools to improve my workflow. So, when I saw an ad on LinkedIn for a “revolutionary” design software, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. The ad promised to streamline my design process with amazing features at an unbeatable price. Without a second thought, I clicked the link and made the purchase. But soon after buying the software, I realized it was a scam. The software never worked as promised, and when I tried to reach out for support, the company vanished without a trace. I was left feeling frustrated and powerless. 5,000 NZD, a significant amount for anyone, especially a freelancer, was gone, and there was no way to get it back… or so I thought. I was at a loss for what to do next. That’s when I discovered FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY. At first, I wasn’t sure if they could help. Could anyone actually recover money lost to online scams? But, desperate and with no other options, I decided to reach out. I contacted FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY, they explained the process in detail, reassured me that they would do everything in their power to recover my funds, and kept me updated every step of the way. To my amazement, just two days after I reached out, they successfully recovered 4,800 NZD of the 5,000 NZD I had lost. The relief I felt when I saw that money back in my account was indescribable. It was like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Since then, I’ve made it a point to share my experience with other designers in the community. I want to raise awareness about the scams that are out there and remind others to be cautious when browsing for new software. Scammers can target anyone, even professionals like us. But I also want to let fellow designers know that if they do fall victim to fraud, they don’t have to give up. FOLKWIN EXPERT RECOVERY is there to help. Now, I always tell others: Be skeptical of ads that seem too good to be true, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. But if you do get scammed, there’s hope. Don’t hesitate to contact FOLKWINEXPERTRECOVERY(at)TECH-CENTER. CO M, (WhatsApp): +1 (740)705-0711. They helped me get my money back in just two days, and they can help you too.
Warm greetings,
Mr. Gilbert Jonathan
Go to commentsAs a seasoned entrepreneur, I prided myself on due diligence. But when an associate introduced me to a "high-yield crypto platform" backed by polished presentations and fake regulatory licenses, I let my guard down. The platform promised 25% monthly returns through "algorithmic trading." I poured in $775,000 USDT, For months, the dashboard showed soaring profits. Then, the withdrawal requests stalled. Excuses turned to silence. The platform’s domain expired. My heart sank: I’d been ensnared by scam. The loss was paralyzing. My family’s future hung in the balance. Lawyers warned that cross-border crypto scams were nearly impossible to prosecute. I spent sleepless nights scouring blockchain explorers, tracing my USDT to anonymous wallets, but hit dead ends. Then, a cybersecurity contact mentioned Dexdert Net, a firm with a reputation for untangling sophisticated crypto fraud, desperate, I reached out. Dexdert’s team responded promptly, exuding professionalism. They asked for transaction records, wallet addresses, and scammer communications. Their transparency stood out—no upfront fees, just a contingency plan explaining their approach: tracing blockchain transactions, collaborating with exchanges, and leveraging legal channels. Though complex, it reassured me. Weeks passed with regular updates. Dexdert’s experts traced my USDT to a wallet flagged for scams. Dexdert’s persistence was unwavering. They worked tirelessly and successfully recovered my funds, My $775,000 USDT was secured in a new wallet, verified by my own eyes. Relief washed over me—I’d regained control, they restored my faith. To others, I urge: research thoroughly, question "too good" offers, and act swiftly if scammed. While not all stories end like mine, Dexdert’s expertise turned my despair into hope—a second chance I’ll never take for granted.
CONTACT THEM, DEXDERT NET RECOVERY ARE THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.
WhatsApp: (+1 _859_ 609‑4156) Telegram:( @Dexdertprorecovery) Email:(DexdertNetPro@mail.com)
Go to comments