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Suaalii: how the Wallabies learned to love the 'freak'
Ian Chadband, AAP • December 2nd, 2024 11:30 am
Photo: AAP
The Lions coach loved watching him, his teammates were left awed by him - and the Wallabies' biggest comedian was even upstaged by him.
So welcome back to rugby, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii ... this really was a debut international tour to remember and relish.
After featuring in all four northern tour games, winning a man-of-the-match gong on debut, succumbing to injury while handing out a "humungous" hit against Scotland, and then returning to trouble Ireland, Suaalii did his best to live up to all the hype surrounding his $5m switch from the NRL.
Yet it's the glowing verdict of both teammates and opponents alike that really told the tale of his remarkable month when the 21-year-old morphed from absolute beginner into an absolute menace to international defences.
Considering his veritable baptism of fire, chucked into the maelstrom of a European tour after not playing a game of rugby for five years since his schooldays, his teammates could hardly credit just how quickly he slotted in - on and off the pitch.
"I don't know if throwing someone in the deep end is the best way, but certainly it's worked pretty well for us," said an admiring Andrew Kellaway.
"We're pretty happy to have him. The first part about Joe is he is incredible, what a professional!
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will play the last Test of Australia's European tour in Dublin while Tane Edmed is set to be the Wallabies' 19th debutant of 2024.
"He's 21 years old, and the kid is on his stuff, studying the game, his stretching, his rehabbing, his recovering, he's every bit the professional, and he's certainly rubbed that off on a lot of our guys.
"You've certainly seen a lot more guys starting to do that sort of stuff, which is really cool, and I think a really big pat on the back for him. He's come straight in, made a difference, and added value.
"Then you go onto the field, and the guy's a freak, right? Lots of shades of Israel (Folau) there.
"We're super glad to have him. I don't know how he found this tour. I think he enjoyed it, I hope he did, but he's fitted into the group well.
"He's a great guy. Very, very funny. He's certainly built himself into our team, and we feel like we're close with him now."
Hinting that Suaalii had good line in banter, Kellaway smiled: "I'm not going to say it's good - but he's gone straight after 'The Jester', he's gone after (halfback) Jake Gordon!
"So that's like going after the man at the top of the pyramid, in terms of comedic value. So he's come in hot; he's knocked the big dog off his perch.
"He's been good, he's been great. And, the cool thing for him is he gets to start his rugby journey in a place where rugby is so healthy.
"For Su to come in and see what the game can provide him that other games can't, it's just been really, really exciting to be a part of."
Another teammate Rob Valetini enthused equally: "He's done well. Only four games into rugby union, and all four have been internationals. I'm proud of him for taking that step.
"A lot of the boys around him have been helping him as well, so, yeah, a good report card - and now I've just got to look out for him in Super Rugby. His game is only to get better."
Ireland coach - and, as from today, full-time Lions coach - Andy Farrell is well aware of that too, knowing what havoc Suaalii is capable of unleashing, particularly with his aerial prowess next year, even if he was delighted his Irish side managed to nullify it on Saturday.
"As a rugby league player, he was awesome. I used to love watching him play, especially in the State of Origins, etc.," said Farrell, once a rugby league colossus himself with Wigan.
"When he gets comfortable and he's not having to think too much - because that's where he'll be at this moment in time as it's tough transferring over from league - his skill-set is there for us all to see.
"He's a confident kid, and he's some athlete as well, so he's certainly a good addition to rugby, good for us all to watch."
And for once in his fledgling rugby career, Suaalii wasn't the centre of attention this week, with Ireland only apparently having eyes for Joe Schmidt.
"We had to put our arm around him, say 'it's all right, mate, the cameras will be back, don't worry'," laughed Kellaway.
