Well before Joseph Suaalii pulled on the tri-colours jersey and became a household name and signed a multi-million dollar Wallabies deal, the then 15-year-old schoolboy prodigy rocked up at an Australian sevens training session alongside three other emerging stars, including Tolu Koula.
It wasn’t long before Suaalii made his presence felt – and had everyone’s jaws dropping to the Kippax Field.
Nick Malouf, the current Sevens captain and a regular try-scorer for Leicester Tigers the previous season, copped the brunt of it – and has not forgotten it.
“Who snuck you this story?” he told The Roar. “He winded me. He came in and we went up for a restart against each other and I felt like I’d been hit by a tonne of bricks and he was 15.
“It’s not been a secret for a while how good he is and I certainly was on the receiving end when he was a youngster.
“He sat me down, won it and I got up thinking, ‘what the hell just happened there.’ He’s incredible.”
Malouf isn’t one for hyperbole.
But the well-spoken captain, who is considered one of the best in Australian rugby at the specialist kick restart area, marvels at Suaalii’s potential and believes he will be an instant hit if, as seems probable, he takes the leap and signs with Rugby Australia.
“Wherever he plays, he’s going to be a weapon. Wherever he plays,” Malouf said.
Nick Malouf (Photo by Getty Images)
“He’s an incredible athlete. Gifted footballer, works really hard clearly. Physically, you can see mentally that he’s driven and motivated and disciplined. He’s been impressive from a young age.”
Another well-respected figure who was at the Kippax Oval when Suaalii leapt over Malouf was Scott Bowen – the Australian sevens high-performance guru and former Wallabies playmaker.
“Nick Davis, who works with the Swans, was here that day as well and done a lot of our restart work, so when we saw him leap in the air, we both looked at each other and thought, ‘he’d be perfect for our game’ and I think we said it at the same time,” Bowen said.
“He’s a freakish talent. He’s the same age as my son [Jack], so they played NSW primary schools together as a 12-year-old and we knew back then that he was destined to be a very good footballer.”
Another who got to work first-hand with Suaalii was former Waratahs star turned coach Peter Hewat.
Hewat, who spent years at the Brumbies alongside Dan McKellar before taking on the head coaching role with Ricoh Black Rams, was the Australian Schoolboys coach in 2019 when they knocked over New Zealand Schools across the ditch.
“I just thought he was a freak athlete,” Hewat told The Roar.
“He could play 13-out with ease. He glided along the ground. He was very good in the air. He was a freak basketballer and had a great vertical jump.
Joseph Suaalii. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“But what I was surprised about what was that he was in year 10. He was asking questions and wanting to know more. Physically too, he was playing against kids much older than him but he and Tolu Koula were the standouts.”
While Rugby Australia was in the reckoning to sign Suaalii out of school, the schoolboy sensation ultimately turned down advances from then CEO Raelene Castle, director of rugby Scott Johnson and Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
On Saturday, Suaalii signed a multi-year $1.6 million deal to join Rugby Australia from October 2024 through until the 2027 World Cup.
New Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who was pivotal in luring Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri and Mat Rogers to the code, batted away any questions regarding Suaalii at the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Australian Schoolboys lunch on Friday in Sydney.
“I’ve got no idea, mate. I’m only worried about this World Cup,” he said.
Jones, who saw first-hand the importance of retaining its young stars by going through school with the Ella brothers, said it was vital Rugby Australia did more to ensure it didn’t lose its emerging talent.
“It’s massively important,” he said. “A chance for the best kids to play with the best kids. Gives them a chance to play other countries, experience that feeling of playing together.
“You look at every successful World Cup team in the world and generally it started at the 18s level.
“Then into the 20s and they come up into the senior level. So it’s massively important.”
He pointed to the extraordinary Australian Schoolboys side of 1977, who were dubbed as ‘The Invincibles’ after knocking over Ireland, Wales and England, which transformed Australian rugby and led to a golden generation that culminated in winning the World Cup in 1991.
“I think with the experience they can beat anyone in the world, and then continues through to what – the 91 World Cup, 84 grand slam. All of that success in that period was built on the success of the ’77 schoolboy side,” Jones said.
Colin Fenwick
Roar Rookie
Yet they field a whole heap of players from other pacific island countries. I think you'll find the vast majority of current (and past) All Blacks are born and bred in NZ. Now compare this with say the Samoan rugby team.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Agree Wizz, he's only a kid but earning more $$ than say Micahel Hooper. There's something that doesnt really add up.
Trog
Roar Rookie
I wasnt sure about Eddie again, but like me , he was given his first chance in Rugby through Australian Schoolboys. I like the attention Rugby has gotten of late, this adds to it. When you have all the Leaguies going off, and the Rugby response is welcome back…well done
mushi
Roar Guru
Then do we need ones that are essentially from 4 years ago?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I hear punters express a similar call in our free market system on a regular basis across anything or anybody who is getting the top dollar. I remember punters coming into the Real Estate office I had a spell in just before houses boomed in the late 80's. ''The price of houses is ridiculous , no way I'm paying $150,000 for a house in Narrabeen''. The next ''big thing'' isn't going to always get to the peak but often enough they do and the market often rewards their superior input. Do you really believe a player like Cameron Smith who can play injury free at a vastly superior level for 15 years , kick goals , referee and captain the team isn't worth much more money? Turn it up.
Bonza
Roar Rookie
Keyword there "potentially" Runs hard and strong defender but he's hardly a game breaker like Sailor, Tuqiri or Folau were when they switched.
Wig
Roar Rookie
No because I never mentioned anything your talking about :laughing: numbskull
Wig
Roar Rookie
My focus was never on NZ or lawful citizens or how tough they are etc etc. It's what the oz teams what solutions they need to find to bridge the gap and compete. So you missed the bus big-time So overnout
Panthers
Roar Rookie
You are obviously a Kiwi, from the name that you call yourself. I didn’t need that explained . Nor do I care where you are or what your kid’s heritage is? I’ve got nothing against Kiwis or anyone else. My posts above weren’t unfair posts to put up , or questions to ask . If you’re going to say , Australia needs to toughen up etc. As you’re comparing the sides from Australia to NZ & elsewhere. Then , it’s not unfair to say that even NZ sides require other islander nation’s peoples to be tough & rugged enough to win. You have no rebuttal to this.
Tetley
Roar Rookie
The Roosters have 18 months to find the next Suaalii. They'll be fine. The other club that they steal him from will be hurting though.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Well , it’s a fair tack to go on. You’re claiming that NZ players are so tough , rugged & dominating. Yet they field a whole heap of players from other pacific island countries. Both in the backs & forwards. I said , if what you say is true ( not denying that NZ produces so many top Union players itself ), why do the All Blacks need to field so many players from other island countries especially? Surely they should all play for their own countries? As The All Blacks don’t require them. Obviously they do require them. I never said that Rugby Union in Australia isn’t a bit of a laugh.
Wig
Roar Rookie
This post is not worthy of these pages and has nothing to do with what I said. And I have no hate for Australian Rugby or mentioned ethnicity/where anyone's born. My 3 kids kiwi/balinese born in Buleleng north Bali where I sit as we speak....so what. Da
Wig
Roar Rookie
Oh your going on that tack !! :unhappy: It's about oz sides at sprp fixing the gulf/gap working out the long term issues so they do compete so no need to try make it into something it's not old son. Finding long overdue solutions and stopping the ill feelings against refs/officialdom opposition sides (kiwis) and any other excuses can think of and if your seeing what the commentry teams are spilling yesterday not helping. Wallabys as a team aren't far off the pace but let's see
Panthers
Roar Rookie
That must be why soooo many All Black players don’t come from NZ as well? They are islanders , so close enough right? The All Blacks ,for all the loads of great players to come through the local competitions , aren’t even beyond fielding Australian’s? If NZ rugby players are all so rugged & dominating? Why don’t they advise all the Samoans, Tongan’s , Fijian’s etc., to play for their own countries? So even NZ in Union isn’t rugged enough to win , without a load of imports? :thumbup:
Ray
Roar Rookie
Does anyone know how equitable the ARU funds players to each of the SR Clubs. You would think that the funding should be somewhat aligned to the number of Wallabies at each club, because that is who they are trying to top up and retain in Australia. Where does that leave the Force, with few wallabies, therefore little top-up and thus at a severe disadvantage. Now the Waratahs are going to benefit with another massive top-up, or is this a recycling of Michael Hooper money should he leave after the RWC?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No. I’m just asking for you to show me how I am pretending I’m AB. Or do you think having a pic as your profile pic on here is pretending to be somebody? Do you think Mig is pretending to be John Sattler? Do you think everybody with a pic of somebody else is pretending to be them? I suspect it’s you without the comprehension issue. And classic you. You bring something up. But then when challenged want to say something like “oh there’s more important things to worry about”. Funny when you’re happy to worry about it until your challenged. So precious sometimes
sheek
Roar Guru
TWAS, You seem to have a problem with English comprehension. Or you simply don't want to understand. Forget it. There's much more important things for the world to worry about that what you think.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Where have I said I’m AB pal?
Malotru
Roar Rookie
I'm sure he'd make a great prop and the first target in the lineout. Enough of this endless talking up the prospects of the next great white hope.
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
Seems that he has. An article on the NRL Roar site claims that he has signed a 3 year $1.6m per season deal with McLennan. I know he is a big talent but at $1.6m ..... is he worth it ? Is that a smart move for RA ? I tend to think if RA is outbidding a cashed up NRL club for someone then RA is probably over paying. Lets just hope that the media exposure is worth it.