Joseph Suaalii’s signing was one of the most controversial in Australian rugby history, but former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika believes it will pay off in spades.
Suaalii, 21, last year signed a multi-million dollar three-year deal with the Wallabies, which will see him become Australian rugby’s highest paid player when he leaves the Sydney Roosters later in five weeks.
The deal was orchestrated by former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan, who believed bringing Suaalii back to the game he starred in as a schoolboy would help the Wallabies on the field and see fans flood to stadiums across the country to watch him play.
But given RA’s precarious financial picture – the governing body opted against a private equity deal last year and has since drawn more than $60 million from an $80m loan – the deal rocked the boat, particularly from cash-strapped Super Rugby franchises.
Although some pundits like Morgan Turinui said his mega deal would pay for itself given his ability and marketability, others argued his $5m deal would inflate the market.
But Cheika, who oversaw Israel Folau and Marika Koroibete’s seamless transition to the Wallabies, said Suaalii had all the tools to succeed in the game once he departs the Sydney Roosters later next month.
“So firstly, definitely a good decision [to sign him],” Cheika told The Roar Rugby podcast.
“Yes, a lot of money. Now the finances, I don’t understand. As long as it’s proportionate to the finance of others, then yes, it’s great because he’s going to go real well. He’s a competitor and he’s going to go really well.
“It’s always high pressure when you recruit those guys.
“I’m not sure what the last question was, but whatever it is, he’ll be good at it, that’s for sure.”
Michael Cheika believes Joseph Suaalii will succeed for the Wallabies. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Suaalii was part of Peter Hewat’s coached Australian Schoolboys side that went across the ditch and beat New Zealand Schools to end a seven-year drought.
Before that, Suaalii was invited into Cheika’s Wallabies camp. Interestingly, Cheika said he was unconvinced how many members of his squad Suaalii knew other than Folau.
Cheika started Folau on the wing for the Waratahs, before moving him to fullback.
After a full season for the Waratahs, Folau starred on debut for the Wallabies scoring a double against the British and Irish Lions in Brisbane to explode onto the international scene.
Years later, Cheika took Koroibete on the end of season tour to the northern hemisphere but didn’t hand the Melbourne Storm recruit a cap.
It took until The Rugby Championship for Cheika to cap Koroibete.
Marika Koroibete is congratulated by Wallabies coach Michael Cheika after winning The Rugby Championship match against Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks at Suncorp Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Brisbane. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Both rugby league converts have proved to be immense successes, with the duo claiming five John Eales Medals between them.
Cheika said it would take Suaalii some time to find his feet in the game, but thought he would excel in the fullback position – the same spot Folau generally played under the former Wallabies boss.
“Obviously Joe, his forte is the attacking side of the game. There is a certain amount of reintegration you’ve got to use when you bring someone from league back to rugby, even if they’ve played rugby before,” Cheika said.
“I’ve had to do it a few times with Israel, with Marika, with a couple of other players that we’ve brought over from league in different versions of at the Waratahs or at the Wallabies.
“What position? I think fullback’s his go. The more room to move, great under the high ball. You can orchestrate him coming to catch high ball and attacking plays as well.
“His room to move, his defence back there and the way he’d organise, he’d just need to learn a little bit about the movements in the backfield because that’d be very different to anything he would’ve experienced at league.”
Joseph Suaalii in action against the Sharks during the 2024 NRL Premiership. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Whether Suaalii does in fact feature at fullback remains to be seen.
He will join the Waratahs in 2025, with Wallabies Max Jorgensen and Andrew Kellaway also in the frame to feature at fullback.
Cheika’s former assistant coach Simon Raiwalui last week told The Roar Rugby podcast Suaalii was in the frame to feature either at fullback or in the midfield under new coach Dan McKellar.
But given the rich depth in the position, McKellar could decide to squeeze his best talent in the same XV.
Former Test playmaker Matt To’omua asked whether Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt might look to favour a second ball-player in the No.12 jersey if he indeed looked to start Suaalii at fullback over incumbent Tom Wright.
“I’m not going to say it because you’re here,” Cheika said. “A player like yourself, who can play ball, but can also carry well.
“Even a guy like Kurtley [Beale], who played there a little bit, who can threaten the line himself, but also be a distributor.
“They’ve got players like, say a Hunter Paisani, who’s a very good ball carrying player. I don’t necessarily think you need to change him, as in we need a ball playing player, he can learn how to ball play, right? He’s playing the elite level of the game, he’s just got to understand how he, when he needs to and picking the times.
“But I do think that person who can threaten the line and also ball play to then open up the threats for a player like Joseph, if he’s playing, wherever he’s playing, fullback or centre, wherever it is, you open up those options a bit more.
“Even if you look at when [Matt] Giteau played there, he’s still a running threat. So it doesn’t have to be the big ball carrying player who then has to convert, it can be a running threat with pace, who can look, see a hole and take it all.
“But just that double threat where you could run or distribute and distribute with accuracy to be able to bring that player in line. Because like I was saying before, defences are so improved now. You’ve really got to open them up by creating that little bit of deception or threat in different parts of the field.”
Christy Doranhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/09/04/definitely-a-good-call-why-cheika-is-convinced-rugby-australias-punt-on-suaalii-will-succeed-for-wallabies/‘Definitely a good call’: Why Cheika is convinced Rugby Australia’s punt on Suaalii will succeed for Wallabies
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