Joseph Suaalii's confession about Israel Folau as Wallabies recruit responds to rugby backlash
Suaalii's selection in the Wallabies squad for their UK tour sparked backlash.
Joseph Suaalii has described Israel Folau as one of his sporting idols and says he's hoping to draw inspiration from the former NRL and Wallabies great as he embarks on the latest chapter of his career. Suaalii is hoping to make his Test debut in rugby union later this year after being controversially picked in the Wallabies' squad for their tour of the UK, despite never playing a game of rugby as an adult.
Suaalii was a schoolboy rugby sensation before being poached by the Roosters and making his NRL debut as a 17-year-old in 2021. Since then, he's risen to become one of the standout outside backs in league and is comfortable playing centre, on the wing or even at fullback. However, the 21-year-old agreed to become Australian rugby's most prized signing in more than a decade after agreeing a staggering three-year deal worth more than $5 million.
Rugby Australia had one eye on the British and Irish Lions tour next year and the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil when they signed Suaalii. But new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt raised eyebrows last week after picking him in Australia's 34-man squad for their UK tour. Schmidt insisted that Suaalii wasn't just picked to gain experience and suggested he was a strong chance to make his international Test debut, despite not even playing one game of Super Rugby.
The call from the Wallabies coach drew widespread criticism but Suaalii says he's determined to prove the detractors wrong and show he deserves a Test debut by justifying his multi-million-dollar price tag. "I don't see it as an expectation. I see it as kind of a privilege," Suaalii said at an unveiling of the Wallabies' jumper for next year's British and Irish Lions tour.
Suaalii made his State of Origin debut for the Blues this year but was sent off after a high shot on Reece Walsh in the opening minutes. He was also a standout performer for the Roosters in their run to the preliminary final, with many questioning why he'd leave to join a NSW Waratahs side that finished last in the Super Rugby in 2024. However, Suaalii says he has no regrets about chasing his rugby dream.
"I feel like everyone has an opinion, which is respected," he said. "But, yeah, I'm on my own path. I feel I'm dreaming how I want to dream. I didn't have one doubt in my mind I was coming over. I knew what I was doing straight away. I've always wanted to play union one day and it's always been a dream of mine. So no matter what anyone said, it was always stuck in my mind. Nothing was going to change."
Joseph Suaalii hails 'mentor' and sporting idol Israel Folau
The parallels between Suaalii's career and Folau's own rugby switch are obvious and the 21-year-old says three-time John Eales Medallist has long been an idol and mentor of his. Suaalii says he has fond memories of being a wide-eyed 10-year-old watching Folau make his Wallabies debut during the 2013 Lions series in Australia, and has drawn inspiration from the code-hopping superstar.
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"I actually met Israel when I was 14," Suaalii said. "I really looked up to him when I was younger. For a young kid, I feel like I really wanted to ask a lot of questions. I feel like it's been one of my strengths, just learning, and Israel was someone I could look up to and ask questions, and every now and then I do catch up with him and he's a great mentor."
Suaalii will be off contract after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia and has been linked with a return to the Roosters. But he also admitted that a rugby sevens appearance at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 could tempt him to remain in the 15-a-side code. "Yeah, look, I think it's every young kid's dream to go to the Olympics," he added.
"If you're in school and everything stops with the 100-metre race or any Aussie that's going well, my teacher in primary school would always stop. I remember Jessica Fox coming to school after she won a gold medal and presented some sports awards, so even the memories kind of sparked something in myself (for that) to potentially one day be a dream of mine."
with AAP
