Code-hopping Sydney Roosters star Joseph Suaalii has revealed he will travel with the Wallabies on this year’s spring tour as his NRL side prepares for Friday night’s qualifying final against the Panthers.
The 21-year-old signed a $5 million three-year deal with Rugby Australia — the richest contract in Australian rugby history— in March 2023 and will officially make the switch after the NRL finals.
Suaalii admits his impending code-switch had naturally been on his mind and stated he was attempting to put all his focus on Friday’s finals match. But he also revealed he would not have to wait long to get a taste of the rugby national team setup.
“Obviously it’s going to come through your mind, but it’s not going to be everything,” Suaalii said on Thursday, as reported by AAP.
“You’re just going to focus in on what you can do today. I feel like I’m just focusing on the session today, and we’re focusing on the game on Friday against Penrith. That’s it.
“I’m going on that [Wallabies] spring tour at end of the year, I know that, but I’m not sure when my first game (of rugby) will be.”
It’s not clear if Suaalii would travel with the Wallabies squad as a learning experience of if he will be in the frame to play matches but his inclusion would highlight the desire to fast-track his development.
Suaalii burst onto the NRL scene in 2021 as a schoolboy prodigy, with the then 17-year-old granted an exemption to make his top flight debut before he turned 18.
