'Not be vindictive': Rugby Australia boss sends warning to League over Suaalii reaction

Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan has offered some sage advice to rugby league if they want a chance at getting star recruit Joseph Suaalii back.

The reaction by rugby league figures to the original news of Joseph Suaalii's impending switch to rugby union has been bitter, with figurehead pundit and Bulldogs Chief Phil Gould telling the Roosters star to 'go now' and get out of 'our game'.

The discussion dominating rugby league now is whether Joseph Suaalii should be prevented from playing State of Origin, Australian rugby league's showpiece event between Queensland and New South Wales.

RA chairman McLennan said that they need to be 'dignified' in how they handle Suaalii and avoid burning bridges with the young man.

“League should pick on talent and form, and not be vindictive,” McLennan told the Nine papers.

“I suspect they’ll have a better chance of ever getting him back if they’re dignified about it.

“If Joseph’s wish was to return to league at some point in the future, we’d be relaxed about it.

“It’s a great honour to play for the Wallabies or in a Lions series, but we wouldn’t be punitive.”

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones was excited by the prospect of seeing his future player in the Origin arena and did not want to see him miss out over the contract situation.

The 63-year-old believed performing well at Origin level was a good indication of how a player would handle Test rugby.

“The league recruits we had in the past, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri and Mat Rogers, all were brilliant at Origin,” the Wallabies coach said.

“It’s a true test of a league player, and they showed they could cut it there, and it would be good to see Joseph in that same arena.

“I think if you can handle what Origin throws at you, it shows you will be able to handle Test rugby.

“It’s the highest of standards and it would be great to see him make it into the Blues side and then play well.”

Suaallii was involved with the NSW Blues squad in 2022 but has not featured yet in a State of Origin game.

He represented Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022 and helped the Pacific side make the final.