As NRL star Payne Haas was linked to a high-profile cross-code switch, Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has declared their rugby league cousins have “lost their minds” after sensationally attacking his meeting with rugby-bound Joseph Suaalii.
Weeks after Suaalii signed a multi-million-dollar deal to join Rugby Australia in 2025, McLennan and fellow board member Phil Waugh met the 19-year-old for coffee in Woollahra on Wednesday morning.
Within hours, News Corp had caught wind of the meeting and declared the teenager had been “sprung” and left “red faced” from his “secret meeting”.
Joseph Suaalii met with Rugby Australia chair Hamish McLennan and board member Phil Waugh on Wednesday. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
News Corp insinuated the back had been distracted and didn’t have his priorities right following consecutive defeats.
On Wednesday afternoon, McLennan hit back.
“The NRL has absolutely lost their mind,” McLennan told The Roar.
McLennan said there was nothing sinister at play and the governing body was checking in on his “well-being” following the “media firestorm”.
“At rugby, we’re very pro-player and their welfare.”
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan says rugby league have “lost their mind” after another attack on the game. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
McLennan was the key driver in luring Suaalii back to the XV-person game and has built a relationship with the NRL’s highest profile player under 20.
During the meeting, they spoke about an array of things, including where he was most excited to play.
“I said Murrayfield and ‘Waughie’ said the Stade de France but also added Twickenham,” McLennan said.
The Roar has been told of several NRL stars reaching out to Rugby Australia since Suaalii’s bombshell decision to jump ship.
While some rugby players have raised eyebrows by Suaalii’s huge deal, the vast majority believe he will have a positive impact on Australian rugby. Others support it but also say RA will consequently feel it at the pocket as a result.
At least three Wallabies backs, one off contract this year, have told RA officials they will have to up their price as a result of Suaalii’s huge deal.
Nonetheless, more and more NRL players are starting to consider switching codes and have begun picking up the phone to RA.
On Wednesday, Brisbane Broncos star Haas became the latest.
Hass, 23, is the Broncos’ highest paid player and is arguably the game’s most influential prop.
RA held talks with Haas in 2021, with then-Director of Rugby Scott Johnson meeting with the forward, who played rugby union as a teenager before shifting his priorities to league.
Broncos star Payne Haas is the latest NRL star to be interested in rugby union. Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Nothing progressed, but it’s understood the forward is keeping his options open when he comes off contract at the end of 2024 – the same date Suaalii will join RA.
It’s understood RA won’t move heaven and earth to sign Haas, but McLennan confirmed the governing body was interested in the NSW State of Origin forward and, indeed, anyone who was game-breaker and wanted to play for the Wallabies.
“Payne could definitely be wearing Wallaby gold,” McLennan told News Corp.
“We really like Payne. He has a strong rugby pedigree and it’s probably time for him to spread his wings and do something really special.
“The Broncos are great — but playing for the Wallabies against the British Lions would be even better.
“By playing rugby, Payne can see the world.”
A 118kg beast, Haas is built in the same vein as England back-rower Billy Vunipola, who played a key role for Jones during the Australia’s seven-year reign with the Rugby Football Union.
Former Origin and Kangaroos forward Corey Parker said he could understand why rugby would be interested in securing him.
“He is a special talent and he would be an asset for the Wallabies,” Parker told News Corp.
“Payne is not your normal rugby league athlete.
“He is such a gifted forward and for his size and speed, he is remarkably fit and I have no doubt he would be successful in rugby.
“I don’t know what position he plays because I don’t know the game well enough, but he would certainly have the talent to make it in rugby.
“Apparently he has a rugby union background and I’m sure Payne will be putting a lot of thought into his future.”
Dally M
Roar Rookie
I think even the original story about Sua'ali'i signing was by a League journo before there was any announcement from RA. Of course then Gould lost his bundle, PVL followed suit...
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
Never really seen Haas as a League player. He is talented but doesn't quite seem to fit. As for NRL lost their mind, remember its all about the media. It was the News Corp that potted him, the News Corp that likely wound the NRL up for a comment and continued until they got the one they wanted and the News Corp that wrote the story. After the ridiculous Suallii deal (regardless of who is paying the dollars), every league player worth his salt will be testing the water. There are probably a few AFL players and your odd Sumo wrestler in that group also.
soapit
Roar Guru
yep im sure. the two issues are if an nrl player would be worth much publicity in those markets (nowhere near like kolbe) and youre not typically going to take that approach with many players (you dont need multiple faces). anyway i guess we'll find out. i just think js inflated figure has massively skewed peoples perception of offers that would be coming for nrl players from rugby.
soapit
Roar Guru
i think it would depend on the player. a lot of guys would prefer to be famous in their home country and while i would go for a japan experience myself i know plenty of people whohave never lived outside of sydney.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Club rugby in the NH is starting to commercialise the players. For a big player coming to Europe he can be splashed all over the UK and France which is a much bigger market than NRL land. Toulon as an example paid 2m to buy Kolbe out of his contract. If a T14 club believed a play would boost revenues they would happily sign him.
Cec
Roar Rookie
If salaries are roughly similar would you, as a player, want to earn the same coin getting belted in the NRL or play in Japan? I wonder if the player agents and players consider this factor for young players as they do for guys topping up their super towards the back end of their careers. For the next tier down of upcoming league stars, and not just established stars, the discussion of how best to use or extending your earning capacity years would open up considerations. If it were my kid I’d say go to Japan, unless you’re a real shot at SOO, for similar pay and hopefully over a longer career, but I doubt he’d listen to me :laughing:
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
He played NZR the same way NZR played SR breakup. NZR made a press release and stated their terms. No behind the scenes chats with ARU, SARU or RA. As Razor showed using the media as you bullhorn is the only way to get NZR to listen
ScouseinOz
Roar Rookie
If you want to believe that then fair enough
ScouseinOz
Roar Rookie
zzzzzzz
amband
Roar Rookie
bored? Not me. More stirring up NRL the better. Cleary next?
Dally M
Roar Rookie
McLennan wasn't even chairman when RA decided to reject Faux. And while the deal may have been less than Faux's upgraded offer, the Stan deal included FTA coverage and contra in form of mid week shows and advertising on 9 meaning they got more. There are no guaranteed places in the Wallabies, just ask Vunivalu. RA aren't the ones constantly attacking Sua'ali'i when they talk about him, that's muppets like Gould, Rothfield, Kent etc. McLennan had a coffee with Sua'ali'i to check and see how he's going after all the hooha and the league journo's treated it as a gotcha moment, again calling for him to banned from Origin etc.
Dally M
Roar Rookie
Mate, it's the league journo's keeping it in the news. The kid had a coffee with McLennan and they went apoplectic over it
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
So deeply that you have his first name wrong.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
If anything why would anyone believe anything the Murdoch NewsCorpse media spews out. Just look at what he’s done in the USA , apart from here, & evidently there’s more to come!
Malotru
Roar Rookie
Yep and his best time for the marathon is under two hours.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
The Roar is rapidly descending into a them versus us gabfest. Enough of the gossip about who's moving over to Rugby this week. Why not try a bit harder to get a few more bums on seats and a larger viewing audience for Rugby?
soapit
Roar Guru
this is my point tho. a top 20 nrl player wouldnt regularly be considered a top 20 union player before theyve played a top level game (except perhaps by RA). the offer to switch would usually reflect this. do you know what blake ferguson was signed for in japan? (google offered three pages about him getting jailed/sacked before i gave up) ive ben arguing for a long time that RA would get best value by looking at the next tier down in nrl
soapit
Roar Guru
im not saying they cant afford it in black and white. im just not dont think they would justify a higher offer than that player will get in league, at least until they have spent some years in rugby. its not like there is a massive difference in scale. nrl is bidding for a proven player, union is bidding for an unknown outcome. the former is more valuable.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Ex bronco years ago in that great team from 90 s finished his career with Brumbies he wasn't prestigious signing just had a itch to scratch I assume..Name eludes me but played flanker never made wallabies but was in his 30 s when made jump.It can be done needs dedication.
ScouseinOz
Roar Rookie
You think he got NZ to agree to all his terms?? He got a couple of extra million fair enough. One of those has gone straight into Dave Rennie's bank account. I think other administrators would have got a similar deal without playing it in the media. That's just my opinion. The Lions seemingly have managed to get a 50 50 split for the 2025 tour without leaking empty threats. They used to make a few million (spread between 4 nations) while the host nation would make 50 mil plus. That looks like a successful deal to me. We ll just have to agree to disagree obviously. It doesn't really matter what I think the results are out there in the open right now.