Eddie Jones has fired the first shot in the war against rugby union as he looks set to complete the signing of Sydney Roosters’ young star Joseph Suaalii from 2025 onwards, according to The Sydney Morning Herald’s Andrew Webster.
Suaalii, who is contracted with the tricolours until the end of 2024, has been linked for a move back to rugby union since he departed the South Sydney Rabbitohs in December of 2020.
Since then, Suaalii has asserted himself as one of the most exciting young prospects the game has ever seen playing for both the Roosters and Samoa.
With growing speculation that Suaalii has a multi-million dollar offer from both the Roosters and Rugby Australia on the table, a decision looks set to be made in the coming days.
“I got a call from our chief rugby reporter (Sydney Morning Herald’s) 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 The Run Home.
“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.”
With the Roosters currently feeling the strains of the salary cap, Webster admitted there is an internal feeling at the club that Suaalii will join Rugby Australia.
“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,” Webster added.
“Nothing has been said to them about it, they’re dealing with Isaac Moses (Suaalii’s agent) who is a very tricky manager to deal with.
“There’s just sort of a sense that it may be the case, I don’t know if it’s necessarily the right thing for Suaalii.
“I think a lot of people at the Roosters have been telling Suaalii, ‘Look be very careful with your decision to go, because there’s always playing for the Wallabies, but do you want to be playing for the Waratahs? No disrespect to the Waratahs or Super Rugby but is that where you see yourself playing week in and week out?”
Webster also questioned the stability of Rugby Australia’s finances and if they could justify spending over a million dollars a year on a player who is unproven in playing professional rugby union.