Roosters boss Trent Robinson has told Phil Gould to ‘stick to his turf’ and slammed suggestions Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii should fast-track his code switch and join Rugby Australia immediately.
Just days after extending with the Roosters through to the end of next season, Suaalii signed a three-year contract with the 15-man code worth an estimated $1.6 million per year from 2025.
Rated one of the NRL’s best young talents, Suaalii’s move has been the subject of extensive public and media attention.
On Monday night’s episode of 100% Footy, Gould suggested now that the rugby deal was done, Suaalii would be better off making an immediate move.
Ahead of the Roosters’ clash with Parramatta on Thursday night, Robinson hit back at the suggestion and insisted Suaalii would be staying put until the end of his contract.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has hit back at Phil Gould’s comments over Joseph Suaalii’s impending switch to rugby union
Last week Suaalii officially confirmed he will join the Wallabies at the end of 2024
‘It’s a ridiculous comment. That was a guy that’s looking after another club,” Robinson said of the Canterbury supremo.
‘Ridiculous comment to say about Joey and what he would do. He can stick to his turf and we’ll stick to ours and how we want to deal with it.’
Robinson also argued Gould’s comments betrayed ‘a fair bit of fear’ about rugby union, which is desperate to boost its profile ahead of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour and the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Suaalii’s move comes just months after new Australia boss Eddie Jones warned he would raid the code in an attempt some of its biggest stars to switch to rugby.
‘It showed a fair bit of a fear, for me, about another code. Lots of players sign a year out. Coaches go between rugby union and rugby league,’ Robinson said.
‘To come out against Joey, as a 19-year-old, showed a fair bit of fear.
‘He’ll be here, those conversations are really clear between Joseph and myself and the club. There’s no desire from [rugby] to get him out early, either.’
On the Six Tackles With Gus podcast later on Wednesday, Gould doubled down on his comments and shrugged off Robinson’s reply.
‘[Robinson] can only stick up for his player, and he’s got to build a relationship with the player because he’s got him there for another 18 months,’ he said.
Gould blasted the Roosters star and suggested he should leave the NRL immediately
‘I fear nothing, and I fear no one, so I’m not sure what he’s talking about there.
‘It’s a competition between the codes, it’s as simple as that. You can’t get away from that fact.
‘He’s in our game for the next couple of years promoting rugby. That’s what it’s going to be. Let him go now.’
With speculation rugby could come calling for former schoolboy talents such as Cameron Murray, Tolu Koula and Will Penisini, Robinson called for calm in NRL circles.
‘We’re going to have a great competition, always. This is the pinnacle of any rugby competition in the world. So stay cool, relax,’ he said.
‘We’re always going to attract players that want to be their best, that want to be at the height of the game.
‘Don’t come out with fearful comments about other codes and all of that. Respect both sides of it, enjoy parts of their game, but stand tall on what our game is.’
Robinson also revealed he never believed Suaalii would remain at Moore Park forever.
The Roosters centre was an elite rugby talent in his days at The King’s School and had faced speculation of a potential code hop since before he made his NRL debut as a 17-year-old.
Robinson said the move, finalised late last week, neither surprised nor upset him but Suaalii would be welcome back at the Roosters in future.
Eddie Jones has claimed he will raid the NRL to lure players to rugby union
Robinson insisted he never expected Suaalii to remain at the Roosters forever
‘His decision to move in 2025, that’s his decision. I was pretty relaxed,’ he said.
‘I didn’t think Joey was going to be a 10-year player, I thought he would often play for the Roosters but I also knew his desire to play different levels, different sports.
‘I know he’s a Rooster and he’s quite clear on that.
‘Really supportive and happy with the process from our point of view.’
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