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Christy Doran
The Roar
Joseph Suaalii has naturally attracted the headlines over the past week following his mega three-year deal with Rugby Australia.
The widely held view is that Suaalii will succeed on the rugby field, but debate has raged as to whether RA’s precious finances could have been better used by locking up the next generation of schoolboy talent or, indeed, the grassroots and women’s game.
Former Wallabies Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles both took the stance that to grow the game, you have to invest in the best players.
Others fear RA will lose some of its current players or have to pay considerably more to keep hold of current stars after Suaalii blew open the market.
Current Wallabies backs Mark Nawaqanitawase and Jordan Petaia, both of whom are in their early 20s and are expected to get better and better, will both be off contract at the end of 2024. Will they ask RA to double their own deals?
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan, who drove Suaalii’s signing and was the key player in getting Eddie Jones back as Wallabies coach, said aspiring Wallabies would be well remunerated.
“We fully expect to pay our players better than the NRL and probably the AFL for that matter,” McLennan told the ABC.
“So if you’re that good, we’ll look after you and we want our players to retire rich and be successful and have careers outside of rugby.
“Look, it’s a free market and anyone’s entitled to play wherever they want. But our guys do very well. We had a tough time during COVID, but all codes had that, but it’s a new day for RA and if you’re a young kid and you want to play well and do well, we’ll look after you over the long term.”
McLennan said what had been lost in Suaalii’s headline signing was that his arrival would help drive “ratings, commercial revenue, better on-field performance” and lead to more people going out to the game, particularly with private equity on the doorstep of Rugby Australia and feature events on the horizon.
Meanwhile, some have also criticised RA’s active pursuit on rugby league.
So how is Rugby Australia’s player retention going?
The Roar has investigated the current contract status of every player from Dave Rennie’s 44-man training squad in January.
Bearing that in mind, Jones will have different ideas on the futures of Australian rugby’s playing group.
For instance, Suliasi Vunivalu, who wasn’t named, has re-signed with Queensland and could feature for the Wallabies. James O’Connor is understood to have re-signed, too. Max Jorgensen, meanwhile, is contracted until 2024 and RA is already seeking to extend his deal. While the Rebels are hoping Pone Fa’amausili, who wasn’t named either, extends his deal beyond 2023.
World Rugby’s most experienced international coach will name his first training squad on Sunday.
It’s understood no more than 35 players will be invited while no foreign-based players will be included.
Just which injured players are included, too, remains to be seen. While Taniela Tupou is thought to be a certainty, others like Angus Bell and Matt Philip are no guarantee.
The futures of four current players, including the incumbent Wallabies captain James Slipper, remain firmly in the balance.
Star Brumbies duo Nic White and Slipper have yet to re-sign.
The issue remains largely over their age and future in the Wallabies beyond this year’s World Cup.
Slipper and White will be 34 and 33 respectively by mid-June and both are unlikely to feature in the home World Cup in 2027. But can they play a role against the British and Irish Lions?
White is itching to be involved and, on current form, is the first-choice Wallabies No.9 despite Tate McDermott’s attacking threat.
White said he wanted to be involved in the Lions campaign in 2025.
“Yeah, bloody oath mate,” he told The Roar.
“Can’t you hear the excitement in my voice over the next five years how good it’ll be here.
“Mate, of course I want to be here. That’s massive. That Lions series can be won or lost off one moment. It was Justin Harrison way back and it was probably Leigh Halfpenny’s boot or a miskick last time they were out, so it can be one moment that can win that series.
“It’s such a big series and yeah, I’d love to be a part of it. Obviously, there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before then. But how exciting and it’s pretty exciting to have a guy like Joseph come over and throw his hat in the ring for that.”
The Brumbies are desperate to retain both players, believing both can play roles for the Wallabies going forward. They also believe they can play pivotal roles in nurturing the development of the next generation of props and halves.
It’s understood neither want to head overseas either, with White having spent five years abroad.
Harry Wilson is the biggest risk of heading overseas.
Wilson’s camp wants him to become the face of the Queensland Reds and a leader. The Reds want him to stay, too.
But is the money there? RA can only allocate so much for top-ups and with Rob Valetini re-signed on a big deal worth north of $600,000, Langi Gleeson emerging and Rob Leota re-signed too, there is so only so much for another ball-running back-rower.
“I don’t deal with the contract side,” Jones said when asked about Wilson’s future on Friday.
“All I know is that Harry Wilson is a player of interest, and if he keeps playing well he’ll get selected. If he doesn’t keep playing well, he won’t get selected.”
Dynamic centre Hunter Paisami is weighing up his future too, with Japan a genuine option.
Here is the current contract status of the Wallabies’ most-recent 44-man training squad:
Allan Alaalatoa: Re-signed through until end of 2027 and a strong contender to captain the Wallabies going forward.
Angus Bell – Re-signed through until end of 2027 and one of the best young props in the world.
Matt Gibbon – Re-signed through until end of 2025.
Tom Robertson – Off contract, but understood to be keen to stay at the Western Force.
James Slipper – Unsigned beyond 2023, but wants to stay.
Sam Talakai – Signed through until end of 2024.
Taniela Tupou – Signed on a million-dollar deal through until end of 2025 with the Rebels.
Hookers
Folau Fainga’a – Heading to France after season.
Lachlan Lonergan – Signed through until end of 2025.
David Porecki – Signed through until end of 2024.
Locks
Nick Frost – Signed at the last moment in 2022 on a three-year deal through until end of 2025.
Cadeyrn Neville – The Wallabies’ second oldest debutant in 2022, Neville is off contract and exploring options.
Matt Philip – Off contract, but the Rebels lock is hoping to stay in Australia.
Izack Rodda – Signed through until end of 2024, but well liked by Jones.
Darcy Swain – Signed through until end of 2024.
Loose Forwards
Charlie Gamble – Recently re-signed on a new two-year deal and Michael Hooper’s heir apparent at the Waratahs in the No.7 jersey.
Langi Gleeson – Off contract, but expected to re-sign until 2025.
Ned Hanigan – Off contract but on the hunt for a new deal.
Jed Holloway – Re-signed through until end of 2025.
Michael Hooper – The Wallabies’ most-capped captain; the no.7 is considering his future and hasn’t made up his mind beyond the World Cup.
Rob Leota – Re-signed through until end of 2025.
Fraser McReight – Re-signed through until end of 2025.
Pete Samu – Heading to France following the World Cup.
Rob Valetini – Re-signed through until end of 2027.
Harry Wilson – Off contract and strongly considering a move overseas.
Scrumhalves
Jake Gordon – Expected to re-sign through until end of 2025.
Ryan Lonergan – Signed through until end of 2025.
Tate McDermott – Expected to re-sign imminently on a long-term deal.
Nic White – Off contract but wants to stay.
Flyhalves
Quade Cooper – Japan-based.
Ben Donaldson – Off contract.
Noah Lolesio – Signed until end of 2024.
Centres
Lalakai Foketi – Expected to re-sign imminently on a two-year deal.
Len Ikitau – Expected to re-sign imminently on a two-year deal.
Hunter Paisami – Off contract and weighing up a move overseas.
Izaia Perese – Off contract.
Samu Kerevi – Expected to sign a new Japanese deal.
Outside Backs
Kurtley Beale – Unclear.
Jock Campbell – Signed through until end of 2024.
Reece Hodge – Heading to France.
Andrew Kellaway – Signed through until end of 2024.
Mark Nawaqanitawase – Expected to be announced on a new one-year deal.
Jordan Petaia – Signed through until end of 2024.
Tom Wright – Expected to be announced on a new two-year deal.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
would be good to get some top ups in the squad :-/
I reckon there are a few bolters this year.
The system it’s self is at fault, paying people who may or may not be able or good enough (on the day) means that you’re going to have to double dip somewhere down the line every game.
I still think all players within Australia should be eligible and players paid per game for the wallabies. Tie in win bonuses to that and every player will know that they should play out of their sock’s every single game and the sky is the limit.
I know it wouldn’t work because it’s too bloody easy.
May the FORCE be with you!
Sure, or maybe they'll all agree to play for nothing and then hunger-games it out for million bucks to each Wallaby? Wouldn't get easier than that...![]()
This is absolutely true. So why did RA refuse Sualii a contract for a lousy $100K - though only until he finished school last year - after he'd already played NRL for the Roosters and been in the South Sydney system for years?? It was an offer made by Sualii's people - not one attempted by the bumbling RA which at the least might have kept him out of the clutches of those dastardly Mungos long enough to get him into Super Rugby.
He, like his good mate Will Penisini at Parra grew up in the Penrith-Blacktown area, playing junior Rugby League at club and rep level. Both were awarded scholarships to Kings School in Parra to boost their First XV's and that's where the Rugby apprenticeships started. When Sualii moved to Souths he continued RL with the Coogee Wombats. For the record, I think Penisini may prove the other high profile "defection" Hamish MacLennan is claiming. Also for the record; the backgrounds of Cameron Murray, Angus Crichton, Lachlan Ilias and a long list of others are similar.
I get a little tired of all this crap about "bringing our young men back to Rugby". Particularly when the grass roots of the game are endlessly overlooked and when a player of such obviously great potential slipped through RA's fingers. I agree with the idea that, with the Lions tour and RWC in the medium future high profile Leaguies with a Rugby background might be a good idea, but please stop the spin cause you could still end up with egg on your face. "Joseph is a young man fulfilling a dream to be a Wallaby - AND A WARATAH (FFS).
If I was picking Mungos to sign for a quick fix, they'd be Reece Walsh & Nathan Cleary or Lachlan Ilias. Maybe even one or two of the other dozen outside backs probably as good as Sualii. But does Rugby need outside backs??
Rant over.![]()
Last edited by shasta; 31-03-23 at 11:39.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
Nathan Cleary would be far more useful even if just for his kicking in general play and goal kicking. Rugby doesn't have anyone like him.
Sua'ali'i to the Tahs on a motza
Tupou to the Rebels on a motza
Can't wait to see who they've got lined up for the Force with all this money they have to splash around!
C'mon the![]()
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Exactly
It won't be Mogg or CFS though, because the Brumbies are using them for tackle bags.
That's more important that making the Force a competitive team. "You can have Folau Fainga'a because nobody else wants him but the silly bugger still thinks he can make a play for RWC"
C'mon the![]()
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This article is a good explainer of how things work in the junior development area in NSW & Qld. It details the synergy between NRL juniors and the GPS system. It gives reasons why RA misses out more often than not.
The elephant in the room, IMO, is that the NRL model has an unwanted side effect of weakening country junior leagues/unions to the benefit of the AFL. There was a solution put forward jointly more than a decade ago by two blokes who know a little bit and understood this synergy, Wayne Bennett and Alec Evans (the "Scrum Doctor"). That was to pool development pathways, and share development officers. It was mostly rubbished by many and the rest is history. I thought it was an enlightened proposal and said so here.
One in six NRL resumes now includes rugby. Will Gen Next end the code war?
If you thought Joseph Suaalii’s rugby switch ruffled a few rugby league feathers this week, imagine it happening with a young Rooster named Fittler.
Or is he a young Waratah named Fittler? Or both?
It depends on who you ask.
https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/nrl...30-p5cwm5.html
OR
https://theworldnews.net/au-news/one...d-the-code-war
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David