The Sydney Roosters are reportedly growing in confidence that young gun Joseph Suaalii will remain with the club, despite signing a whopping $5 million contract to switch to rugby union earlier this year.
A remark from Roosters chairman Nick Politis that the 20-year old prodigy has told the club he is ‘coming back in 2028’ in an interview with Channel 9 has fanned rumours Suaalii’s deal with Rugby Australia will be scrapped, with a report from the Sydney Morning Herald and rugby league journalist Danny Weidler suggesting key powerbrokers are getting ‘cold feet’.
According to Weidler, the Roosters’ attitude towards Suaalii’s impending departure has changed dramatically in recent months, with coach Trent Robinson reportedly playing a key role in discussions with the young gun in an emotional conversation mid-season that helped turn his floundering form around.
“There is no question that many at the Roosters had lost faith in the player. The only one who stayed in his corner the whole time was coach Trent Robinson,” Weidler wrote.
“It was an emotional heart-to-heart with Robinson some weeks ago which turned Suaalii’s life and career around.
Joseph Suaalii . (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
“Suaalii got a lot off his chest and shed a few tears when talking to his coach. The pressure of his situation certainly got to him, which is understandable given his young age and the scrutiny he was under. He expressed regret at the way things had unfolded and his form had dipped, and left the meeting with the weight lifted from his shoulders.”
Should the deal go ahead, the 2024 season will be the last for Suaalii before switching codes to play for the NSW Waratahs – and most likely the Wallabies as well – on a three-year contract.
However, Politis has suggested the code-switch will not be permanent, with Suaalii to return to the Roosters at the end of 2027 once his RA deal expires.
“It’s sad that we’ve lost him to union, but he tells us he’s coming back in 2028,” Politis told Channel 9 recently.
It has been reported but denied by RA that the code’s next broadcast contract could be required to provide crucial funds for the Suaalii deal.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Agreed. He's been playing League since he was a little kid and has got himself to about 6th in line for a NSW wing spot. The idea that he's going to switch to Union and suddenly be the Wallabies multi-million dollar saviour seems... optimistic.
criag
Roar Rookie
Over three years, though (and it's $4.8 million..don't overpay him $200,000)
Tony
Roar Guru
No argument
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
I haven’t seen him playing as I don’t follow league - where in WA. Hope you are correct as it is a lot of money for a single player. Still think we will be better of with an NRL for currently contracted players instead of raiding league players.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Does this put a crimp in the fifteenist's master-genius recruitment plan? 1. Play rugger at school 2. Turn pro in league 3. Go back to rugger, play for the Wallabies, live the dream (possibly nightmare) 4. Travel the world, all the way from Edinburgh to Biarritz, play in the European league/s, earn a motza 5. Play in Japan, earn another motza 6. Semi-retirement with the Gold Coast Titans on a semi-motza
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
I wasn't thinking of the player so much as the code. Union have paid mega bucks for a player in the hope that he will be the difference in a RWC performance. This kid has come across for the $ only (reasonable assumption given recent statements). So assuming he is playing union but he doesn't really want to be there, does he give 110% ? Also remember that this kid has never been tested at a RWC level (he hasn't even been tested in Origin). What guarantee do RA have that they are going to get anywhere near a bang for their buck ? To me, Sam Burgess playing for England in a RWC had a far greater chance of success.
terrence
Roar Rookie
Suaalii played fb for samoa at last year's league wc. And he did a pretty decent job at it.
Dionysus
Roar Rookie
Meanwhile RA world cup hopefuls see all the League boys coming in on big money and taking their places, get slightly miffed and decide to go the other way. Either way, Rugby ends up the real losers because they are building this migration on a bed of sand. What RA did with Suaalli amounted to bribery. He didn't want to go to Rugby (and has indicated so with his desire to return to the Roosters) and is only doing so for the $$$. This distorts the market and does no one any good. If a kid is genuinely interested in playing union (or league) and a few dollars smooths the way then fine but once the money difference gets excessive then you are in trouble.
Don
Roar Rookie
I think he would transition from wing to fullback well. Has a great pass, very good kick, good defender, great runner with the ball and very good receiving kicks. He could be the Freddie Steward big body fullback type. RA has overpaid, but they've got a very good player.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
This
Don
Roar Rookie
He played 21 games this year and 3 of the games he missed were because of suspension not injury. Worst case, he missed 3 games because of injury. The Roosters had a better winning % with him playing and lost 4 of the 5 games he was out. And he's also kicking goals at 78% success rate.
Don
Roar Rookie
Richie Mo'unga signed to a Japanese club @ $2M a year didn't he?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Had an up and down 2023 – like his team did. And a factor of being shifted around positions a little, but also because of the RLWC (which is a 4 yearly event) he had a significantly reduced pre season. When you've had 5 consecutive pre seasons this won't matter as much. But when you are in your 2nd season as a full time pro this is a big loss.
Don
Roar Rookie
Yep. The young bloke is a terrific player. Had an up and down 2023 - like his team did. He was outstanding last year and in the RLWC. Worth the money? No. And people comparing him to others in the NRL are off track. Regardless of whether we think there's better outside backs who could make the switch, he is the one who would most easily make the transition and would more likely excel than any others.
Don
Roar Rookie
Wests would give him $800K :laughing:
Adam
Roar Guru
Well it's Andrew Kellaway at the moment...but what I don't get is the other alleged wunderkid is Jorgensen who is likely a fullback himself. I guess it comes down to which unproven talent does RA pay through the nose for?
Tony
Roar Guru
That's always been my position :laughing:
Adam
Roar Guru
Agreed. A million buys a lot of meat pies for the front row training camp that might actually win a Bledisloe
Adam
Roar Guru
Yeah and that's all the guys really need. Goodness knows their career is 10 years or significantly less. Might as well earn a million a year than 500k.
Full Credit to the Boys
Roar Rookie
He was out for a few lengthy times this year. It seems to me that very young footballers are prone to injury when fast tracked into the NRL.