‘You just expect that’: Ex-NRL star reveals what sets Suaalii apart

At just 21, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii already boasts an impressive CV. Suaalii helped Samoa reach the Rugby League World Cup Final in 2022, played State of Origin for New South Wales, was named Player of the Final on debut for the Wallabies, and even launched a rap career.

With more than 150,000 listens on Spotify alone, Suaalii enjoyed a successful start to life in the music business, with the code-hopper releasing ‘We Rock The Party’ alongside a trio of other NRL stars who formed the group Dreamyourz.

Dreamyourz released that single in December, which was about one month after Suaalii’s debut for the Wallabies at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. Without playing a single minute of Super Rugby or even Shute Shield, Suaalii was named Player of the Match against England.

Max Jorgensen was the hero for the Aussies, with the winger flying down the left edge in the 84^th minute to secure a dramatic 42-37 upset win. With Suaalii standing out on debut, there was a spark of enthusiasm about rugby union in Australia that hasn’t wavered since.

Suaalii is already a key member of the Wallabies, and the utility has continued to impress during a series of strong performances for the Waratahs. But this is only the beginning, as former Roosters teammate and Dreamyourz member Joseph Manu explained.

“Obviously straight to international which would be different but I think that he’s excelled in everything that he’s done so far,” Manu told RugbyPass.

“You just expect that from him. He’s a player with some abilities that people don’t have and other players dream of.

“The thing that sets him apart is the work ethic, how hard he works. I’ve been lucky enough to see that first hand for a few years there working next to him.

“He gets everything he deserves because he works so hard and I’m just really happy for him. I know he’s got a long, long career. It’s only the start of what people have seen.

“I feel like he’s going to be one of the best players obviously in Australia but also in the world.”

Manu and Suaalii both left the Roosters after the 2024 NRL season. Suaalii signed a lucrative multi-year deal with Rugby Australia which is well-known, and Manu penned a deal in Japan Rugby League One with Toyota Verblitz.

It was reported about two weeks ago by The Sydney Morning Herald that Manu, who is set to join French side Racing 92 in just a matter of months, instead wants to return home to either Australia or New Zealand on compassionate grounds.

That news sparked plenty of rumours about where Manu could land. While some fans want the former New Zealand Kiwis fullback back in the NRL, other supporters are hopeful Manu might sign with a Super Rugby Pacific club in the pursuit of All Blacks honours

But that’s all just “noise.”

About two weeks before the SMH story broke, Manu was asked about the seemingly constant rumours linking the cross-code star to the All Blacks. Manu is firmly focused on Japan Rugby League One at this stage, as the 28-year-old continues to learn the sport.

“I’m sort of used to the noise,” Manu told RugbyPass last month.

“Being in Sydney underneath the spotlight, you always get that stuff from the outside.

“Myself, it’s just noise for myself. I guess there was always going to be talk, you can’t avoid it. It is what it is. You’ve just got to accept it and try not to read into that stuff.

“At the end of the day, I’m a new player over here so I’ve done my thing in league and I can probably get a bit of respect from league players or some of the boys that like watching league, but I’ve done nothing in union.

“Obviously, people are going to talk. Fans, that’s what they do, that’s what’s good about the game, they talk about it a lot… I’m learning, I’m new, so I don’t worry about what people are saying.

“I think there’s people saying I wasn’t happy here a while ago and the results haven’t been the best for my team but I’m enjoying it a lot here and I feel like… it’s been a great decision and I’ve really enjoyed it.

“Probably good being over in Japan too, like out of the spotlight from New Zealand, Australia. It’ll always be there… this is what I do for work, luckily. It doesn’t feel like it’s work for me, I just enjoy playing rugby, rugby league, whatever it is.”