Rugby Australia set to enter bidding war for 16-year-old rugby league star after secret meeting with Dave Rennie
Rugby Australia is primed to enter a bidding war with the South Sydney Rabbitohs over the services of a 16-year-old dual code phenomenon who secretly met with new Wallabies boss Dave Rennie during his recent tour of Australia.
The incumbent Glasgow Warriors head coach visited all four Super Rugby clubs, fulfilled media duties and met with RA and Wallabies colleagues during his week-long visit of the country last month.
It was Rennie’s first official trip Down Under since being unveiled as the successor to Michael Cheika as Australia head coach last year, and time was limited as he laid the preliminary foundations ahead of his four-year tenure at the helm of a struggling Wallabies outfit.
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However, at the recommendation of RA director of rugby Scott Johnson, Rennie took time out of his schedule to sit down with teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii, who is contracted to the Rabbitohs until the end of 2021.
According to Australian media reports, Suaalii is the only non-Wallabies or Super Rugby player that Rennie spoke to throughout his nationwide tour.
It’s an audacious approach by RA to attempt to lure The King’s School product – who is still only in year 11 and is expected to play both rugby union and league this year – away from the grasp of the Sydney-based NRL club.
In response, it’s understood that the Rabbitohs are set to upgrade Suaalii’s contract to try and stifle the poaching efforts of the rugby union organisation.
However, reports indicate that RA will look to entice the youngster by dangling the carrot of a potential spot in the Wallabies’ 2023 World Cup squad.
Australia U20 coach Jason Gilmore compared Suaalii to rookie Waratahs wing Mark Nawaqanitawase, who also played both union and league at school.
“My first engagement with him was on that Australian under-18 tour,” Gilmore told The Australian.
“I’d never met him before but on the trip he was excellent.
“I was probably more impressed with his off-field approach to his footy… he was really keen to learn and is a humble young man.
“He has obviously been brought up really well.
“He is obviously a player of interest in a couple of codes so it is going to be a competitive recruitment catch but we certainly see a lot of value in him.”
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“He is going to be 6ft3in (190cm), long limbs, really good aerial skills and a genuine bloke that can beat tackles one-on-one.
“He is a genuine point-of-difference player in your football team.”
A RA spokesperson said Australia’s national governing body is willing to dip into its “fighting fund” in its quest to secure Suaalii’s signature.
The fund was established two years ago to “support the recruitment and retention of identified youth talent.”
“We want to find, develop and keep the best athletic talent in the land,” RA chief executive Raelene Castle said at the time.
RA’s pursuit of Suaalii comes after last year’s acquisition of Melbourne Storm wing Suliasi Vunivalu, who will switch codes to join the Reds on a two-year deal from next season.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments