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
wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments