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Wallaby backs pursuit of Suaalii after reports of $10 million mega-deal

By AAP
Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters looks on during the round 21 NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Brisbane Broncos at the Sydney Cricket Ground on August 04, 2022, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia should chase Sydney Roosters flyer Joesph Suaalii if it will help them win a World Cup, current Wallaby Jed Holloway says.

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Amid reports the 19-year-old sensation will field a monumental contract offer from RA with an eye to the home World Cup in 2027, flanker Holloway said the Wallabies’ already strong backline depth could only be improved through the addition of Suaalii.

A rugby junior who played at the prestigious King’s School and made the GPS 1st XV in 2018, the winger has immediately looked the part in his first NRL season, not only consistently starting for the Roosters but scoring 16 tries in 23 matches.

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“If it is going to make our team better, I think would be great,” Holloway told reporters on Tuesday.

“He’s quite a talented person, obviously he’s killing it in rugby league and he is quite young.

“We do have really good guys here in the team who you see – Marika (Koroibete) on the weekend, Tommy Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Jordie Petaia all coming through as well.

“We’ve got a huge amount of depth but if it’s going to make us be better and help win a World Cup, then why not?”

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Media reports say Suaalii would be offered $10 million over five years to sign with RA, as the main attraction on a shortlist of NRL stars to be chased in the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup.

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Australia has not won the tournament since 1999, and are among the lesser fancies for next year’s edition in France.

Asked what sales pitch he’d give to the teen if that wasn’t enough, Holloway encouraged Suaalii to consider the lifestyle the code-switch might allow.

“The beauty about rugby is you get to do what you love and travel the world,” he said.

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“It’s genuinely the beauty of the game, you can go basically wherever in the world and take your pair of boots with you and play rugby.”

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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