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'Knocked the big dog off': How Joseph Suaalii has impacted the Wallabies off the pitch

Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i of Australia walks from the change rooms during the Autumn Nations Series 2025 match between England and Australia at Allianz Stadium on November 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

The Lions coach loved watching him, his teammates were left awed by him – and the Wallabies’ biggest comedian was even upstaged by him.

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So welcome back to rugby, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii … this really was a debut international tour to remember and relish.

After featuring in all four northern tour games, winning a man-of-the-match gong on debut, succumbing to injury while handing out a “humungous” hit against Scotland, and then returning to trouble Ireland, Suaalii did his best to live up to all the hype surrounding his $5m switch from the NRL.

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Yet it’s the glowing verdict of both teammates and opponents alike that really told the tale of his remarkable month when the 21-year-old morphed from absolute beginner into an absolute menace to international defences.

Considering his veritable baptism of fire, chucked into the maelstrom of a European tour after not playing a game of rugby for five years since his schooldays, his teammates could hardly credit just how quickly he slotted in – on and off the pitch.

“I don’t know if throwing someone in the deep end is the best way, but certainly it’s worked pretty well for us,” said an admiring Andrew Kellaway.

“We’re pretty happy to have him. The first part about Joe is he is incredible, what a professional!

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“He’s 21 years old, and the kid is on his stuff, studying the game, his stretching, his rehabbing, his recovering, he’s every bit the professional, and he’s certainly rubbed that off on a lot of our guys.

“You’ve certainly seen a lot more guys starting to do that sort of stuff, which is really cool, and I think a really big pat on the back for him. He’s come straight in, made a difference, and added value.

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“Then you go onto the field, and the guy’s a freak, right? Lots of shades of Israel (Folau) there.

“We’re super glad to have him. I don’t know how he found this tour. I think he enjoyed it, I hope he did, but he’s fitted into the group well.

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“He’s a great guy. Very, very funny. He’s certainly built himself into our team, and we feel like we’re close with him now.”

Hinting that Suaalii had good line in banter, Kellaway smiled: “I’m not going to say it’s good – but he’s gone straight after ‘The Jester’, he’s gone after (halfback) Jake Gordon!

“So that’s like going after the man at the top of the pyramid, in terms of comedic value. So he’s come in hot; he’s knocked the big dog off his perch.

“He’s been good, he’s been great. And, the cool thing for him is he gets to start his rugby journey in a place where rugby is so healthy.

“For Su to come in and see what the game can provide him that other games can’t, it’s just been really, really exciting to be a part of.”

Another teammate Rob Valetini enthused equally: “He’s done well. Only four games into rugby union, and all four have been internationals. I’m proud of him for taking that step.

“A lot of the boys around him have been helping him as well, so, yeah, a good report card – and now I’ve just got to look out for him in Super Rugby. His game is only to get better.”

Ireland coach – and, as from today, full-time Lions coach – Andy Farrell is well aware of that too, knowing what havoc Suaalii is capable of unleashing, particularly with his aerial prowess next year, even if he was delighted his Irish side managed to nullify it on Saturday.

“As a rugby league player, he was awesome. I used to love watching him play, especially in the State of Origins, etc.,” said Farrell, once a rugby league colossus himself with Wigan.

“When he gets comfortable and he’s not having to think too much – because that’s where he’ll be at this moment in time as it’s tough transferring over from league – his skill-set is there for us all to see.

“He’s a confident kid, and he’s some athlete as well, so he’s certainly a good addition to rugby, good for us all to watch.”

And for once in his fledgling rugby career, Suaalii wasn’t the centre of attention this week, with Ireland only apparently having eyes for Joe Schmidt.

“We had to put our arm around him, say ‘it’s all right, mate, the cameras will be back, don’t worry’,” laughed Kellaway.

Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now 

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Phillip 123 days ago

“As a rugby league player, he was awesome. I used to love watching him play, especially in the State of Origins, etc.,”. Did no one tell Andy he played 7 minutes of just one game before he almost took off Reece Walsh's' head?? 😅

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fl 1 hour ago
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“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


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I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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JW 5 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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