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'Bye bye. Off you go': Suaalii told to leave NRL immediately

Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters is assisted on field after a head knock during the NRL Trial Match between the Sydney Roosters and the Manly Sea Eagles at Central Coast Stadium on February 17, 2023 in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Rugby league legend Phil Gould is calling for Joseph Suaalii to immediately leave the NRL after signing a multi-million dollar contract to switch codes to rugby union at end of the 2024 season.

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Gould’s bold statement came during his appearance on Nine’s 100% Footy show where he asked for the game to sever all ties with the Sydney Roosters centre, despite having almost two seasons remaining on his deal in the NRL.

Suaalii will play for the Waratahs after Rugby Australia confirmed the teenager’s code switch from the NRL in a brief statement over the weekend.

“Rugby Australia (RA) and the NSW Waratahs today announced that they have signed Joseph Suaalii from October 2024 until at least the end of 2027,” the statement said. “Per RA policy, terms of the contract were not announced.”

It’s a move that has been the talk of both rugby codes in Australia in recent days.

Gould is not a fan of the switch and his frustration was apparent as he stated that every time Suaalii scores, or makes any significant contribution to the game, the media would refer to the fact that he was leaving for rugby.

“Every time he scores a try. Every time he does something in our game people are going to refer to the fact that he’s going to rugby,” Gould said on 100% Footy.

“Why do we need that? Go now. Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out. Go. Go now. Gone. He’s made his decision. You sign a contract for rugby 18 months before his league contract ends.

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“You can’t sign with any other rugby league club in that time. He can only sign somewhere else. He’s made his decision. I have nothing against the kid. I’ve loved having him in the NRL. He’s a tremendous athlete and is great for the game. But he’s decided to be a rugby player. Bye bye. Off you go.”

While Suaalii is a potential selection for the NSW Blues, Gould has warned that he wouldn’t pick him for State of Origin. “He’s gone to rugby, he’s made his decision and I’m happy for him to go now.”

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Comments

3 Comments
b
bill 607 days ago

He wants a taste of the real thing. It's only natural.

H
Harry 607 days ago

Gus Gould being the clown that Gus Gould is. Literally no logic or rationale to his argument, just a sour grape eating, chip on his shoulder rugby league degenerate.

M
Michael Röbbins (academic and writer extraordinair 607 days ago

What a sophomoric cunt of an irrational rant. Seriously, a crustacean on concussion protocol could reason better than this homunculus.

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JW 1 hour ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Even the 20/30 cappers did too I reckon.


IDK, I think Jordan has a limited life span in this side unless he can develop more to his game. Like you go on to mention, I think theyres more important things to worry about than the effectiveness of someone's extra strings, or secondary components to their game.


Bash backs are Fosters thing, and to a large part they've made it work. Theyre now one of the best teams in the world.


They boy's trucked it up a bit against Italy in the redzone, and against France, wasn't that effective without the right players probably.


Try and take a look at it this way. Dissapointed Havili and Blackadder were in the side? Havili despite clearly shown that he can't do what the team needs at 12 was kept on for the RWC. Back goes down and he brings in Blackadder who doesn't play. Refuses to drop Christie when he should and look who starts this season. Beauden Barret not playing well enough to keep his 10 jersey but we gotta keep him in the side. Weve only got one 8, we stuff developing another I'll just play Ardie every game.


This years team wasn't burdened overly with injuries but they were in every position Razor might have wanted to try and development, severely limiting options. I'm not defending Razor as there was also plenty of other opportunity to make up for it and he was a little gunshy, but I'm also not going to overly criticise him because he chose cohesion over a black slate.

How long are we going to keep blaming All Black failings on Ian Foster.

I think more and more people are on board with it being time to try alternatives, but then again, how would they have reacted to a loss against Italy? 😉

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