If you ever needed proof that NRL convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is hyper-competitive, you don’t have to look much further than the latest Wallabies team photo.
The former Sydney Roosters star has made a blistering start to his rugby career after being dropped straight into a struggling Wallabies outfit following the end of the NRL season.
He immediately impressed with a man-of-the-match performance on his debut in a stunning win over England, before coming off the bench to help the Aussies demolish Wales.
However, a bizarre act by the former NRL star in the team photo ahead of the Wales match has now come to light.
“This is the team photo before the Wales Test, Joseph Suaalii in the second row, second from the left there,” presenter Michael Atkinson said of Stan Rugby.
“This is a guy who’s about 6 feet tall and 6 feet tall, and he still thinks he has to stand on his toes.”
Suaalii, second from the left in the second row, appears to be one of the tallest on the team
Closer inspection reveals that the former Roosters star was standing on his toes for the photo
The prized Wallabies recruit has revealed his relationship with alcohol is very different to that of most football players
Former Wallaby Tim Horan revealed Suaalii was not Robinson Crusoe when it came to this practice.
“Everyone, all the backs do that,” he said.
“All the backs are on their toes.”
Suaalii himself also recently revealed another competitive advantage he has over many other players.
On the Straight Talk with Mark Bouris podcast, he revealed that he had never touched alcohol in his life.
“I’ve never had a sip of alcohol,” he admitted.
“My parents never drank, I never saw them drink growing up and I always had fun without it. I’m still going out.’
As a teenager signed by the Sydney Roosters, it would have been easy for Suaalii to be led down a different path, but he revealed one of his teammates helped him stay on the straight and narrow.
Suaalii made an explosive debut for the Wallabies against England (pictured) after being thrown into the deep end after the NRL season
The center was equally damaging coming off the bench in the Wallabies’ win against Wales
“I felt like Joey Manu was another person who helped me a lot,” he said.
‘He doesn’t drink, he’s very comfortable in his own skin.
“When I first came into the NRL and I saw him do that too, I thought, I want to do it.
“That’s my brother, I want to do what he’s going to do.”
Now the door has been opened for Suaalii to return to the starting line-up against Scotland in the Wallabies’ quest for a Spring Tour Grand Slam after a three-match suspension ended Samu Kerevi’s tour.
The centre’s yellow card for a high shot was upgraded to a 20-minute red during Australia’s defeat to Wales in Cardiff on Sunday (AEST).
On Wednesday, the 31-year-old’s fate was sealed: a disciplinary committee upheld the decision on the field and halved the standard six-week ban due to his guilt, remorse and good record.
Kerevi can shave another match off his ban if he completes World Rugby’s coaching intervention programme. But his tour of the British Isles is over.
He will miss this weekend’s Scotland Test and the first test match of his Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks.
The final Ireland test falls outside the international window. Kerevi was unavailable for that match anyway and therefore not taken into consideration by the jury.
The Wales Test was Kerevi’s first in 13 months, since their ill-fated World Cup.
Suaalii, who came off the bench against Wales, is ready to return to the starting position in which he impressed on his debut against England a fortnight ago.
Other options include Hamish Stewart and Josh Flook, who have joined the top flight of the touring Australian XV squad following Dylan Pietsch’s injury.