Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has landed his top target with Sydney Roosters flyer Joseph Suaalii signing a deal with Rugby Australia from October 2024.
Rugby Australia and the NSW Waratahs confirmed the news on Saturday, with the teenager inking what’s believed to be a multi-million dollar deal through until at least the end of 2027.
In a short statement, RA Chairman Hamish McLennan said, “Welcome back to Rugby, Joseph.”
Heralded as a generational talent during his playing days with the Kings College First XV in Sydney, Suaalii was at the centre of bidding war from rival codes.
Both rugby league and union wanted his services, and it was NRL heavyweights the Sydney Roosters who eventually won that race.
But Suaalii has been back in the headlines for quite some time now, as speculation over his future continues to dominate the rumour mill in both codes.
As reported earlier this week, the allure of a British and Irish Lions tour and a Rugby World Cup on home soil were reportedly major factors in bringing Suaalii back to the 15-player game.
Nine News’ Danny Weilder claimed a deal with “close” to done earlier this week on Twitter.
LATEST: Rugby Australia insiders have told me today they are close to signing Joseph Suaalii for 2025. Not yet a done deal. They still fear a last minute play from Nick Politis. The Roosters were still hopeful he’d stay when I asked them last night. @9NewsSyd @NRLonNine
— Danny Weidler (@Danny_Weidler) March 24, 2023
Echoing that belief, rugby league reporter Andrew Webster said a deal was “all but done” on Australian radio this week.
“I got a call from our chief rugby reporter Georgina Robinson, and she said that there has been talk everywhere of a deal being all but done from ’25 onwards for Joseph Suaalii to go to the Wallabies,” Webster told SEN 1170’s The Run Home earlier this week.
“That’s when the British and Irish Lions will be out here, and they’ve obviously got the World Cup here in Australia in 2027.
“I have to say when I spoke to the Roosters to follow up… there was a bit of sort of quiet resignation that it may be the case.”
