England captain's brutal warning to Joseph Suaalii after NRL convert handed Wallabies debut

England rugby captain Jamie George has warned big-money NRL recruit Joseph Suaalii to expect a baptism of fire after his shock selection in the Wallabies starting side for Saturday's (Sunday morning AEDT) Test match at Twickenham. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt stunned the rugby world this week after naming Suaalii to start at outside centre against England, in what will be his first ever game of senior rugby.

Suaalii was a schoolboy rugby sensation before being poached by the Roosters, who he debuted for in the NRL as a 17-year-old. Now 21, Suaalii left the NRL at the end of this season after making his State of Origin debut for NSW in 2024 and playing an integral role in the Roosters' march to the preliminary finals.

The cross-code star has instantly become the face of rugby in the country after signing a three-year with Rugby Australia reportedly worth more than $5 million. But many thought his selection in the Wallabies' spring tour squad was more about gaining valuable experience ahead of next year's British and Irish Lions tour. Few if any expected Suaalii to be named in the Wallabies' starting 15.

Schmidt accepted his decision to pick Suaalii was a "risk" but it was one the Wallabies coach said would benefit them in the long term. "Everything's a risk, but I would challenge that with 'everything's an opportunity' - and it's a fantastic opportunity for a young man who's really excited about getting the chance," the Wallabies coach said, before adding that he expects Suaalii to "hit the ground running".

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Suaalii will start at outside centre at Twickenham, with Len Ikitau on his inside and England captain George admits his men will have to get "clued up" about the NRL recruit and the unknown factor that comes with his inclusion. But George says Schmidt knows what he's doing and wouldn't have picked Suaalii if he wasn't ready, despite issuing a warning to the Test rookie.

England captain warns Joseph Suaalii after Wallabies selection

"Joe Schmidt is someone that I've been a massive fan of, I respect hugely in terms of his understanding and knowledge and I know that if he wasn't ready to play, then he wouldn't be playing," the England captain said. "So that's something that we've got to be very aware of. There's this element of the unknown, but at the same time we've got to make sure we're as clued up as we possibly can be. And we also need to make sure that he knows what Test match rugby is all about."

England assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth added about Suaalii: "It will be really interesting, won't it? I don't think Joe Schmidt, the world-class coach that he is, puts him in unless he's ready. He's played at school and has been ready for this move for a while. He's obviously an incredible athlete and talent, which is why he's come over with the reputation and the price tag he's got."

Suaalii's shock selection for the Wallabies has been met with plenty of backlash, with veteran league journalist David Riccio among those to label his fast-track into the Australian rugby team as a "disgrace". But Suaalii and Schmidt have brushed off the criticism despite the Wallabies coach admitting it's become impossible not to focus on the superstar NRL recruit.

"I mean, we don't do press conferences about the team anymore. We do them around Joseph - and I guess we try to protect him from that," the Wallabies coach said. "But he's a really level-headed kid, and so that gives us some confidence he will cope. But we've got to find out sometime... He's been excellent (in training) and that's part of what gives us confidence not to wait another week or two weeks, or until next year. We just thought, particularly with Hunter Paisami picking up an injury, and Samu Kerevi coming into camp late, that (Ikitau/Suaalii) was the best combination for us."

with AAP