- Joseph Suaalii looks to leave his mark on rugby
- Signed lucrative three-year contract with Rugby Australia
- Sonny Bill Williams gave us some words of wisdom
- SBW stood out in multiple sporting fields throughout his career.
Cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams has given some timely advice to Joseph Suaalii as the former Roosters youngster prepares for his rugby ‘journey’ with the Wallabies.
Their sporting paths have many similarities – Williams was also a child prodigy, making his NRL debut as a teenager and they both have Samoan backgrounds.
The duo also spent time with Trent Robinson in Bondi, and now 21-year-old Suaalii is pursuing a new sporting challenge in the 15-man code, just as ‘SBW’ did, winning two World Cups with New Zealand.
Suaalii’s three-year, $5.3 million contract with Rugby Australia will also ensure his every move is closely scrutinized.
Williams, who won two NRL premierships and played 58 Tests of rugby for the All Blacks, believes Suaalii must lead by example.
‘The best advice is simple and logical. “Take your time, isolate (any) outside noise and go about your business,” he said. Wide World of Sports.
‘Train hard, work hard, be first in the gym, raise your hand to learn and do extras.
“I’ve seen him a couple of times. He’s a good young man, sensible, very respectful.
Cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams has given some timely advice to Joseph Suaalii as the former Roosters youngster prepares for his rugby ‘journey’ with the Wallabies.
Suaalii’s three-year, $5.3 million contract with Rugby Australia will also ensure his every move is closely scrutinized (pictured, playing for the Roosters)
“He has good people around him and I’m an open book if he ever wants to say something.”
Williams dismissed the idea that Suaalii has to earn his place in Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies team.
“He (will be) the highest paid player in Australian rugby,” he said.
‘The (British) Lions will come next year. I played for the All Blacks with no Super Rugby experience. So it’s feasible.
“There will be a lot of scrutiny, but I think he will be successful in his journey.”
Williams added that Suaalii “can’t go unnoticed” and that “pressure is an integral part of the game.”
“We are in a high-performance space and we are all questioned,” he said.
It comes as the Wallabies are currently 10th in the world and finished last in the Rugby Championship, behind South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina.
