Wallabies coach Dave Rennie hasn’t given up hope teen sensation Joseph Suaalii will snub a big-money offer by NRL club South Sydney to stay with rugby union.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie hasn’t given up on winning the tug-of-war for teen sensation Joseph Suaalii.
The 17-year-old is weighing up whether to accept a lucrative offer from Rugby Australia or remain with NRL club South Sydney.
Rennie, who has been doing all he can to convince the sporting super talent to stick with rugby union, concedes if it comes to do finances there’s little RA can do to stop Suaalii joining Souths.
He is however hopeful more than money will drive the decision.
‘Clearly he’s an amazing talent and an impressive young man,” said Rennie, who has pursuing Suaalii for months.
“I got to sit down with him and his family in January, he’s very mature and very aspirational.
“We can’t compete, financially, with what’s being offered by Souths and if he decides to take that route, well good on him. It’s going to be great for him and his family and he’s got a pretty good mentor there
“But it’s important we’re in those conversations.”
“I honestly believe that the great thing about our game is he could go to the Olympics next year and could go to a Commonwealth Games. He could play for the Wallabies and travel the world in what is a genuinely global game.”
One the key challenges Rennie is facing during his tenure is keeping young talent in the 15-man game as cash-strapped RA deal with more financially robust codes chasing talent.
“What we’re trying to do is provide a pathway. Give them an understanding that if they work hard, here’s the opportunities,” he said.
“We’re talking to kids that are actually playing our game. So they clearly love the game.
“We’re going to lose some because financially we can’t compete but it’s important that we were in those conversations and we’ve got to create relationships with those kids.
“Some we’ll keep and if we lose some hopefully we might get them back in a couple of years’ time.”
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes Walter, definitely prefer Rugby to AFL
Walter Black
Guest
I would sooner watch Rugby than AFL if that is any help. League is my first love and always will be but Union is a great sport.
BillPosters
Roar Rookie
Yeah that’s certainly how it seems to go when the pros switch to NFL but I wonder if he went over there for College and rather just going one and done he sticks around for the full 3 to 4 years then enters the draft at 22. Surely by then he would be a weapon of a tight end or safety
Lorry
Roar Rookie
I think everyone who's gone to NFL has failed though (except punters because kicking in NFL is incredibly easy compared to rugby, league or AFL)... Like most sports it's too hard to switch as an (almost) adult, isn't it?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Rugby has had an U19 NRC
loosehead
Guest
Hush now Barry, the adults are talking. Back to the children's table with you.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes, and you can enjoy watching the endless scrum resets and penalty goals champ.
Jack Mahony
Roar Rookie
I think that one of the reasons that rugby union struggles to sign promising young players is not only because of the money but also because rugby lacks a strong developmental pathway program. The NRL has SG Ball, Harold Matthews and the Jersey Flegg Cup. These competitions get the young players into the professional club’s systems and gives them an opportunity to play at a highly competitive level and gets them into the club’s system. If Rugby union invested in a similar developmental competition I think we would see young players staying in Rugby as well as the younger players being better prepared for the step up to the professional game.
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
tuilagi ragdolled the all blacks...twice...
Terry Tavita
Roar Pro
he could also play for samoa..both his parents are samoan...
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Journalists probably keep asking him the question.
BillPosters
Roar Rookie
I hear that the kid is from the US originally. I wonder if he will go down the Hayne/Holmes path to the NFL or even just start off there. I’m sure there are a stack of colleges who would love his talent on their rosters.
Diesel 2.0
Roar Rookie
Because Real men play rugby.
Sluggy
Roar Guru
You are such a warrior Barry. I guess you need to keep convincing yourself of how good the lite code is. This kid might take the millions on offer from South Sydney for sure. Which does not change the fact that rugby is played all over the world, with 900 million people watching the RWC. You just happen to live in of the two sub-national regions in the world where the village version is played seriously. I would suggest there is a fair chance that the young man will take the 2 million souths are throwing around (why wouldn’t he want to set his family up?) and in 3 years time will head back to real rugby so he can feature on the world stage in the Olympics, a real world cup, twice yearly tours and the like. Enjoy the NRL Barry.
Scotty P
Roar Rookie
As a fellow kiwi, you are embarassing us.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I heard he’s going to just to bother you
Guess
Roar Rookie
Cause it’s way more interesting than league obviously. :silly: Also internetional opportunities/bigger $ would be the main thing for someone like that dude. But then I hope he will stick to league. Still don’t get why is Rennie so involved in this story.
MW7
Roar Rookie
Maybe focus on why NZ got smoked by England.
MikeJ
Roar Rookie
Just give up already. That boy will not help you beat the All Blacks.
Adam
Roar Guru
Me. And I watch a lot more league that union. Union is a great game. League is a great game