NRL chief Peter V’landys accuses Joseph Suaalii of chasing easy money after Wallabies switch
NRL supremo Peter V’landys has continued his bitter war of words with rugby union, berating Roosters defector Joseph Suaalii for chasing ‘easy money’ following his shock code change.
V’landys, the chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), has been an outspoken critic of rugby union, often labeling it ‘boring’ in long-winded diatribes, and the gruff 61-year-old continued that trend after Suaalii announced he would be leaving for the Wallabies and Waratahs after the 2024 NRL season.
The 19-year-old Roosters starlet, who was a prodigious junior in the 15-man code, becomes one of Australia’s highest-paid rugby players after signing a deal worth $1.6 million per season.
V’landys is clearly upset by the loss of one of the NRL’s most popular and promising talents, saying Suaalii’s search for ‘easy money’ was one of the main reasons he switched code.
The footy and racing supremo then turned to his favorite swipe at rugby union to explain why he thought the Roosters winger would return to the NRL with his tail between his legs.
Joseph Suaalii has signed a $1.7 million deal to move from the NRL to rugby union – and was criticized by V’landys for doing so
The Roosters star is the most high-profile rugby union defector in two decades
ARL chairman Peter V’landys has berated Suaalii, criticizing him for chasing “easy money”. The football and racing supremo also said the Roosters star will get ‘bored’ in rugby union
“It’s hard to blame Joseph for going to rugby and considering it his future when he gets paid twice as much for doing half the work,” V’landys told the The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘In rugby they play about 33 minutes a game, but in competition the ball is in play for 57 minutes, so it would be a lot easier to earn your money.
“Besides, I really think that after Joseph has played rugby for a while, he will get terribly bored and go back to rugby league. That’s what most players who switch codes do.’
Of course, this is exactly what happened to mega star Sonny Bill Williams, who won a premiership with the Bulldogs before crossing codes, where he went on to win a Super Rugby title and a World Cup, before returning to the NRL and winning a flag with the Roosters.
But Suaalii has a much closer affinity for the 15-man code, having played at fullback for Sydney’s prestigious Sydney school, famed union school Kings, just three years ago.
He also represented NSW and the Australian Schoolboys in Sevens.
Anyway, Eddie Jones got his man, despite insisting he had “no idea” who convinced Suaalii to swap codes.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, a huge fan of rugby league players and coaches, has finally got his man… although he claims to have ‘no idea’ how it happened
Peter V’landys, pictured with his wife Philippa at the 2022 Dally M Medal, is a vocal critic of Eddie Jones and rugby union, often describing it as ‘boring’ in long-winded diatribes.
Playing at fullback, Suaalii played rugby union for the prestigious Kings school as a junior
The Wallabies coach is an unashamed fan of rugby league coaches on his staff and players of the 13-man game on his squad, and it’s no secret that he has Suaalii and his former Kings team-mate Will Penisini and another union star junior watched. Cameron Murray.
Brandon Smith also brought up the name of Kiwi hitman Nelson Asofa-Solomona, highlighting exactly why he thought a switch to rugby union would appeal to players.
“He’s definitely thought about it, whether he does or not, I don’t know, it would be hard to leave the Storm for him,” Smith told reporters.
‘He has been there since day one, but (union) also fits his lifestyle. He likes to travel. That’s where I think union really trumps rugby league, just the number of countries playing.’
“I think (Suaalii) is probably the first one they have that is a young, emerging talent. So hopefully they don’t take too much of it. (But) there’s always the next kid coming through the ranks.”
The Kiwi’s trademark wit crept in and he threw a brutal charge at Suaalii and the Wallabies.
“Once he builds $3 million worth of homes, he’ll be back and hopefully he’ll be back to the roosters,” he joked.
That $1.6 million could have been better spent on the basics of rugby than grabbing our beautiful young Suaalii… a $1.6 million winger from the Roosters won’t help (the Wallabies) beat the All Blacks.
“I think it’s an opportunity for him to be able to take care of his loved ones and his family… he’s extremely professional, extremely humble. I just hope I get some feeds from it.”
Suaalii has already broken codes, so the focus will be on players like his Roosters teammate Angus Crichton (right), who also played in Union as a junior
Wallabies legend Morgan Turinui said despite the huge price tag it was a great asset to Australian Rugby Union.
“Well done Rugby Australia, they found their man, went out and got the job done,” he said in Stan Sport’s Super Rugby coverage on Saturday.
“It wasn’t easy to do, I’m sure, and good money, but I think it will be worth it.
“I’ve seen a lot of his play at The King’s School, he likes to play full-back, is a great winger. He’s a great kid.
“They’ve done their due diligence. They also get a great human being, over to rugby. I can’t wait to see him. If you see quality, you have to pay for it. ‘
Dual code international Allana Ferugson agreed.
“He’s been an excitement machine in recent years, which we’ve seen him do within the NRL, but he’s definitely coming through the paths of rugby, great buy and very exciting times for rugby union,” she said.
Suaalii has been labeled an ‘excitement machine’ who could mean a lot for rugby union after his shock move
Suaalii is wrapped by a bevy of Rabbitohs defenders in the Roosters’ gold points loss on Saturday night
Three-time NRL premiership player Ryan Hoffman said that while it was a good deal for rugby union, he wasn’t worried about the competition at all.
“It’s disappointing to lose such a great young player, but one thing rugby league does is another one comes along,” the Melbourne Storm legend said on ABC’s Offsiders program on Sunday morning.
‘I remember when Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt (switched to rugby union) everyone wondered how we were going to replace them?
‘Well, everyone in rugby league is replaceable.
“It’s disappointing because he could have done great things in rugby league, but there’s a young gun coming.”
The NSW Blues great also said he was not worried about whether Suaalii could maintain his rugby league focus for the next season and a half.
Hoffman said he was confident Suaalii’s Roosters teammates would not hold him back and the winger would continue to shine on the field.
Melbourne Storm legend Ryan Hoffman admitted Suaalii was a big loss but says rugby league always finds a way to spawn new superstars
“I suppose because it (Suaalii defecting to rugby union) is so far away… I think people will forget,” he said.
“They won’t talk about it in the papers anymore, and in a dressing room, you know, players, they’re all professionals, they’ll do their job.
“We’re used to it in rugby league. I know it’s different in AFL but we’re quite used to players going to other codes or other clubs before their contracts expire in rugby league. It’s not unusual.
“But within the team environment, the player who mostly comes down to professionalism wants to keep his legacy.”
The code change will allow Suaalii to play for Australia against the British & Irish Lions in 2025, with a World Cup at home in 2027.
Suaalii’s move will be rugby’s biggest NRL coup in two decades, after Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri all broke codes in the early 2000s during Jones’ first stint in charge of the Wallabies.
Now that he has moved on, attention will turn to Penisini, Murray and other schoolboy rugby stars such as Angus Crichton, also with the Roosters, and Taane Milne.
Suaalii’s Roosters teammates are clearly aware that this is the case.