- Joseph Suaalii wants to leave his mark on rugby union
- Signed a lucrative three-year contract with Rugby Australia
- Sonny Bill Williams passed on some words of wisdom
- SBW excelled in multiple sporting arenas during his career
Cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams has offered some timely advice to Joseph Suaalii as the former Roosters youngster prepares for his rugby journey with the Wallabies.
Their sporting paths share many similarities: Williams was also a school prodigy, made his NRL debut as a teenager and both have Samoan backgrounds.
The duo also spent time under Trent Robinson at Bondi – and now Suaalii, 21, is pursuing a new sporting challenge in the 15-man code – just as ‘SBW’ did, winning two World Cups with New Zealand.
Suaalii’s $5.3 million, three-year contract with Rugby Australia will also see his every move come under heavy scrutiny.
Williams, who won two NRL premierships and played 58 rugby tests for the All Blacks, believes Suaalii must lead by example.
‘The best advice is simple and logical. Just take your time, shut yourself out [any] noise from outside and go about your business,” he said Broad sports world.
‘Train hard, work hard, be the first in the gym, raise your hand to learn and do extra.
‘I’ve met him a few times. He is a good young man, down to earth and very respectful.
Cross-code star Sonny Bill Williams has offered some timely advice to Joseph Suaalii as the former Roosters youngster prepares for his rugby ‘journey’ with the Wallabies
Suaalii’s $5.3 million, three-year contract with Rugby Australia will also see his every move come under heavy scrutiny (pictured, playing for the Roosters)
“He’s got some good people around him and I’m an open book if he ever wants to say something.”
Williams then dismissed the idea that Suaalii has to earn his place in Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies squad.
‘That’s him [going to be] the highest paid player in Australian rugby,” he said.
‘The [British] Lions will come next year. I played for the All Blacks with no Super Rugby experience. So it is feasible.
“There will be a lot of research, but I believe he will be successful in his journey.”
Williams added that Suaalii “can’t fly under the radar” and that “pressure is part of the game.”
“We are in a high performance space and we are all being questioned,” he said.
It comes as the Wallabies are currently ranked 10th in the world and finish last in the Rugby Championship, behind South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina.