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Rugby league boss Peter V’landys has made his first pronouncement on Joseph Suaalii’s move to rugby union, describing the move as ‘easy money’ for the Roosters star and suggesting that he would return to league before his career was out.
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, V’landys declared that it was hard to argue with Suaalii’s motives for the switch, but that he would eventually tire of his new game.
“It’s hard to blame Joseph for going to rugby and considering it as his future when he is going to be paid twice the money for doing half the work,” said the ARLC chairman.
“In rugby they play around 33 minutes per match, but in league the ball is in play for 57 minutes, so it would be a lot easier to earn your money.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“Besides, I really think that after Joseph plays rugby for a little while he will get terribly bored and return to rugby league. That’s what the majority of the players who switch codes do.”
Suaalii’s teammate Brandon Smith also gave him a light-hearted sledging, telling media that union was ‘soft’.
“Super stoked for him, he’s an amazing talent and rugby really got a gem there,” Smith said. “(But) a $1.6 million winger from the Roosters isn’t going to help you beat the All Blacks.
“Like Peter V’landys said, go over, get that easy money and then come back to the real sport. That $1.6 million could’ve been spent better on the grassroots of rugby. We used to always call my uncle soft for playing union. I was brought up in rugby league household.”
Newly-minted Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has made no secret of wanting to entice ex-schoolboy players back to rugby since replacing Dave Rennie in January.
South Sydney skipper Cameron Murray sits atop his wishlist, while other ex-schoolboy rugby stars in the NRL include Angus Crichton, Taane Milne and Will Penisini.
Rugby Australia doesn’t have the financial wherewithal to hand out $1.6 million contracts willy-nilly but the Roosters are resigned to Jones spruiking union to other NRL players.
“Any code would be silly not to target the best players,” utility Drew Hutchison said. “I don’t know if I see it as a threat as such, I more just see it as normal competition. You’ll probably see a bit more of it.”
Smith believes his former Melbourne teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona would be the perfect candidate for an All-Blacks raid; the towering Kiwi has previously expressed interest in returning to the game of his childhood and comes off contract at the end of this season.
“He’s definitely thought about it, whether he does it or not I don’t know, it’d be hard to leave the Storm for him,” Smith said. “He’s been there since day dot but (union) suits his lifestyle as well. He loves to travel.
“I think (Suaalii) is probably the first they’ve got that’s a young, rising talent. So hopefully they don’t take too many of those. (But) there’s always the next kid coming up through the ranks.”
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Suaalii has already been likened to legendary code-hoppers Israel Folau and Sonny Bill Williams and just like Williams before him, the Roosters are tipping Suaalii to circle back to the NRL after a spell in union.
“Once he’s built $3 million worth of houses, he’ll come back and hopefully he’ll come back to the Roosters,” Smith said.
Roosters halfback Sam Walker, who himself played rugby union for GPS school Ipswich Grammar, said Suaalii’s skillset would make it easy to transition back and forth.
“He’s an unbelievable athlete, he could do whatever he wanted to do,” he said.
with AAP