‘Always up for a challenge’: Suaalii reflects on Rookie of the Year

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was recognised as Rugby Australia’s Rookie of the Year after 12 months in the 15-player game, but the code-hopper insisted it’s all about the team ahead of the Wallabies’ five-Test Spring Tour.

Suaalii put pen to paper on a multi-year deal with Rugby Australia in 2023 before making the move across codes about 19 months later. On debut for the Wallabies, Suaalii received Player of the Match honours in a thrilling 42-37 win over England last November.

It was a performance that had the rugby world talking for the next week, with Suaalii also making appearances against Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Suaalii hadn’t played any Super Rugby Pacific or Shute Shield then, but would debut for the NSW Waratahs in 2025.

At the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season, Suaalii was named in the official Team of the Year at fullback ahead of Will Jordan and Tom Wright. The former NRL flyer has been in rugby’s headlines practically every week during a memorable rookie season.

SVNS Series stars Aden Ekanayake and Mackenzie Davis were also finalists for Rookie of the Year at the 2025 Rugby Australia Awards, and so too was Wallaroos winger Waiaria Ellis, but it was Suaalii’s name that read out on stage.

“I don’t play the game for awards. I only play to win as a team. That’s how I see it,” Suaalii told RugbyPass and Rugby.com.au.

“Winning this award is a reflection of the team helping me… anything I do is just for the team.”

Suaalii hasn’t missed a Test for the Wallabies since debuting against England, which included three starts against the British & Irish Lions. The midfielder’s moment of the series was a large break up field in the second Test, before setting up Wright for a try at the MCG.

Under coach Joe Schmidt, Suaalii played the full 80 in the Wallabies’ first five Tests of the year, which included a miraculous comeback win over two-time defending Rugby World Cup champions the Springboks at Johannesburg’s Emirates Airline Park.

The 22-year-old scored three tries in two matches against Los Pumas, before starting two Bledisloe Cup Tests against the All Blacks. Suaalii and the Wallabies are now in Japan ahead of a clash with the Brave Blossoms this weekend.

Australia will also face England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, Italy in Udine, Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, and France at Stade de France in Saint-Denis during their Spring Tour.

“Biggest challenge? Probably just getting used to the travel,” Suaalii reflected.

“In league you don’t really travel across the world and train there.

“For myself, that’s probably been the biggest challenge but it’s been exciting too so always up for a challenge.”