- Converted to rugby after a successful NRL season at Sydney Roosters
- He was thrown in deep and was named man of the match in a surprise victory.
- He now faces a big problem ahead of the second match against Wales.
Former NRL star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii faces a shock demotion despite his electrifying debut for the Wallabies against England.
The former Sydney Roosters star took on a starting center role, despite recently finishing the NRL season and not playing rugby for five years.
The 21-year-old responded with an exceptional performance that helped guide Australia to a 42-37 victory after the Wallabies lost five of their last six tests and were eliminated from the 2023 Rugby World Cup at the group stage. .
However, coach Joe Schmidt is set to leave the rugby league convert on the bench for the Wallabies’ next clash against Wales, instead calling up Samu Kerevi in the starting centres.
Queensland Reds star Hunter Paisami is unavailable through injury, raising further intrigue over the Wallabies’ long-term starting centre-back pairing.
Wallabies legend Tim Horan said Paisami’s absence had accelerated Suaalii’s international rugby career and said the NRL star could forge a lasting partnership with Len Ikitau.
The Wallabies shocked England at home at Twickenham and Joseph Suaalii earned player of the match honors on his debut.
In a shocking revelation, Suaalii could be relegated to the bench for the Wallabies’ next match against Wales.
“It would have been interesting to see what Joe Schmidt would have done if Hunter Paisami was fit for this Test match,” Horan said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.
‘Would I have started with Suaalii on the bench? But I’ll tell you what, they built a great combination and they both escaped and backed each other up.
“So it could be, yes, it’s just a test match for the combination, but it could be a long-term opportunity for this Wallabies pair and sometimes they can also swap because they have 12 or 13 under their backs.” It doesn’t really matter, I don’t think with these two.
“I can’t wait for the next two Test matches to see him in space with the ball in his hand… he’s down to earth, he understands that he has to improve in a lot of different areas, but we didn’t.” I see him a lot with the ball in his hand in open space.
“So I can’t wait to see that.”
While Schmidt may not yet be ready to solidify Suaalii as his starting center, rival coach Warren Gatland has been effusive in support of the NRL convert.
The Wales coach revealed on Thursday what a fan he is of the Wallabies’ exciting new outside centre, even if Suaalii could end up being the player to help him leave his Cardiff job on Sunday.
“I think the impressive thing about him was his offloading game, just being able to put the ball away,” said Gatland, whose job is increasingly under pressure as Wales face a potential 11th consecutive Test defeat, which they will beat records.
Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Tim Horan wants to see Suaalii form a long-term combination in the centers
“He didn’t have many opportunities with the ball in his hand from an attacking perspective, but he was just able to get the ball and get over the top to try and not die with the ball.
“I thought it was a pretty good fit for someone to be involved in their first professional match at international level at Twickenham.
“I think the game needs people like that. The game needs superstars. Let him also be named man of the match and create that buzz.
‘We all know and are quite aware that rugby in Australia needs a boost. And hopefully, for him, that’s the kind of boost he can give.”