Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has warned he is solely scratching the floor after providing a panoramic glimpse of his immense potential in an attention-grabbing Tremendous Rugby Pacific debut for the NSW Waratahs.
Whereas lower than good, Suaalii’s golden touches proved the distinction within the Waratahs’ last-gasp 37-36 escape in opposition to the Highlanders on Friday evening.
From the second minute when he soared excessive to reel in a Jake Gordon field kick, Australian rugby’s marquee $5 million man was essentially the most influential participant at Allianz Stadium as final yr’s new-look wood spooners opened their 2025 marketing campaign in desperately wanted profitable trend.
He contested — and most of the time gained — virtually each excessive ball, made a one-on-one try-saving deal with, a 30-metre midfield burst and virtually danced by means of 4 defenders to attain a magical strive on debut.
But Suaalii conceded he was removed from the completed product in what was the 21-year-old’s first rugby outing taking part in fullback since his schoolboy days.
“It was good,” he mentioned after lasting 67 minutes earlier than cramping up.
“A few instances I used to be out of place however, apart from that, I really loved having the ability to see the sport from at 15 and simply having the ability to see a distinct perspective than from centre.
“However clearly a variety of issues to work on and the fixed high-speed operating in comparison with the place you are tackling extra (within the centres) so I must get some miles in my legs, but it surely was good.”
Some 16,034 followers fronted up, virtually 3000 greater than the Waratahs’ greatest house crowd of 2024, and almost certainly they got here to get a take a look at the facet’s prized signing.
Even half a dozen of Suaalii’s former Sydney Roosters teammates turned out, making it a special day for the 21-year-old pin-up boy.
“Yeah, very pleasurable,” Suaalii mentioned.
“It is good to be taking part in again at Allianz. I do not stay too distant, so it is it is a spot the place I name house so it is good, nice to be again taking part in right here.
“Truthfully, the rationale I performed the sport is as a result of I like the sport and I like that my complete household get to come back to the sport and buddies and all that come collectively.”
The cross-code celebrity even obtained some Valentine’s Day flowers from followers and promised to maintain delivering as he transitions again to the 15-man recreation.
“I really feel like I am simply studying the place to insert myself, how I can get the ball,” Suaalii mentioned.
“Even simply kicking. However it is a beauty of rugby. I am loving simply the facet of rising my recreation.
“I do know I am good within the air, I do know I can kick, I do know I can move, I do know I can run.
“However simply constructing all of the completely different elements of my recreation form of factor.”
Suaalii wasn’t the one spectacular debutant.
Powerhouse prop Taniela Tupou put in a tireless 46-minute shift and threw a gorgeous lengthy ball to place fellow Waratahs first-gamer Rob Leota for a vital first-half strive that kick-started the house facet’s comeback.
It was additionally a profitable debut for brand new coach Dan McKellar, who now has a fortnight to reset his expenses for the Fijian Drua, additionally in Sydney, following a second-round bye.
“At this stage, everytime you get the chance to have a while away and a few steadiness, you have to take it, whether or not it is the tenth recreation in or whether or not it is the primary recreation in,” McKellar mentioned.
“While we’ve not performed a complete lot of video games, we have been coaching onerous for an extended time frame.
“So the boys will get Monday, Tuesday off this week, after which we’ll be in Wednesday, Thursday, and we’ll prepare onerous after which begin our week’s preparation for Fiji on the next Sunday.”
