The former NRL player was impressive in the Waratahs’ last-gasp win over the Highlanders.
Joseph Suaalii went some way to vindicating his $5 million contract with Rugby Australia (which could end up being $9 million) as he made an impressive debut with the NSW Waratahs on Friday night. The former NRL player made his debut in Super Rugby as the Waratahs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the Highlanders in Sydney.
Replacement prop Siosifa Amone scored in the dying seconds to earn the Waratahs a 37-36 win in a match that featured 10 lead changes at Allianz Stadium. Amone bagged his first try in the 66th minute, but the Tahs looked gone after the Highlanders hit the front for a fifth time shortly after.
But the front-rower sent fans into raptures when he finished off a desperate multi-phase attack just seconds before the full-time siren to give last year’s wooden spooners a winning start to the 2025 season. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said afterwards: “We were far from perfect, but the nice thing is there’s some harsh learnings that we can review off the back of a win.”
Amone was the hero, but Suaalii was the talk of the rugby world after an eye-catching debut. The 21-year-old played four Tests for the Wallabies last year during the Spring Tour of Europe, but Friday night was his first match in Super Rugby.
Joseph Suaalii instrumental in NSW Waratahs victory
He was far from his brilliant best, but the Waratahs almost-certainly would have lost without Suaalii and his series of classy touches. Playing fullback for the first time in rugby, the former Sydney Roosters player showcased his freakish aerials skills and kept the Tahs in the contest with his silky running game.
He soared high in the second minute to steal a Jake Gordon box kick from the clutches of Highlanders winger Michael Mansen. He repeated the effort shortly afterwards, but his tap-back fell straight into the arms of Highlanders halfback Nathan Hastie, who promptly sent winger Caleb Tangitau on a virtual free run down the left sideline to open the scoring.
Suaalii was instrumental in the Waratahs snatching a 13-12 lead at the half after his 30-metre burst led to centre Joey Walton being pulled down just short of the line. Referee Angus Gardner nabbed Tangitau for not releasing Walton, yellow-carded the winger and allowed Tane Edmed to boot the penalty in the shadows of half-time.
In the second half, Suaalii beat three Highlanders defenders in a dazzling 20-metre run before Max Jorgensen crossed on the next phase. Suaalii also pulled off a try-saving tackle on Highlanders centre Tanielu Tele’a before Amone proved the unlikely hero with his late brace to save the Waratahs’ blushes.
I thought he was good,” McKellar said of Suaalii. “You’d like to see the ball in his hands more, but he got into space a couple of times and looked dangerous.”
Rugby fans impressed by Joseph Suaalii’s Waratahs debut
Suaalii has the weight of expectation on his shoulders after signing a three-year, $5 million deal with Rugby Australia. In October it was also revealed that Suaalii has a number of options in his contract that mean it could end up being a $9 million deal if he extends a further two years.
The $9 million detail prompted backlash around the rugby world, with many questioning if Rugby Australia is doing other young players a disservice by investing so heavily in one player. Time will tell whether the investment pays off, but fans were certainly impressed on Friday night.
