Ominous sign that Roosters star Joseph Suaalii is looking to switch to rugby union after his NRL contract finishes next year
- Joseph Suaalii signed NRL contract extension to 2024
- Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is a huge fan of the teen
- Suaalii, 19, could be paid $1.4million a year from RA
- Young gun was a rugby prodigy at The King’s School
Sydney Roosters young gun Joseph Suaalii recently penned a contact extension until 2024 – but with his manager Isaac Moses reportedly renewing his accreditation with Rugby Australia, the NRL has reason to be nervous.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has not hidden his admiration for the 19-year-old – and the rival code could be prepared to fork out an eye-watering $1.4million a season to entice the sporting prodigy to jump ship.
In 2025, the British and Irish Lions tour will be staged on local shores, with the Rugby World Cup two years later on home soil.
It presents Suaalii with the chance to play for the Wallabies once his current deal NRL expires – before then returning to league in 2028 if he desires.
Suaalii was a rugby union standout at The King’s School in Sydney before pledging his immediate future to league.
The manager of Sydney Roosters star Joseph Suaalii has reportedly renewed his accreditation with Rugby Australia in a move sure to make the NRL nervous
Incoming Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has not hidden his admiration for the 19-year-old
Suaalii (pictured playing union for The King’s School) could be offered $1.4million a season to switch codes
Amid plenty of hype, Suaalii made his NRL debut aged 17 in 2021 with the Tricolours after the ARL Commission granted the boom youngster an exemption to play at such a young age.
He was then standout for Samoa at the World Cup in the United Kingdom last year, where Matt Parish’s team were beaten in the final by Australia.
Suaalii also wants to play fullback for the Roosters at NRL level, but that path has been blocked by skipper James Tedesco – who also just inked an extension.
According to News Corp, Moses has had his registration accepted by Rugby Australia.
He was deregistered from both footy codes for 18 months in 2021 due to his previous involvement in a Parramatta Eels salary cap scandal involving then-client Tim Mannah.
It was alleged Moses prompted Mannah to lie to the NRL Integrity Unit in 2017.
But Moses, widely regarded as the most powerful agent in the NRL, insists his registration with RA has nothing to do with Suaalii.
He also has the likes of Wallabies Kurtley Beale and Will Skelton on his books.
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