The NRL grand final between Penrith and Melbourne was confirmation that rugby league has turned into a runners’ game.
The sport now places incredible demands on players’ fitness levels with its high ball-in-play time, constant turnover of the ball, and some hot potato football and errors that are glossed over by commentators as they celebrate its entertainment value.
Rugby convert Joseph Suaalii battles the Eels’ defence for the Roosters.Credit: Getty Images
But the contest was like a game of touch footy compared to what Joseph Suaalii is about to walk into in Test rugby.
As good as Harry Grant is, if the try he scored in the first half had been registered in Test rugby, the two defenders he burst through wouldn’t be seen in the international arena any time soon.
The gap between the NRL and Test rugby has never been greater, and the task facing Suaalii in bridging that gap is so large that you’d feel sorry for him if he wasn’t being paid the GDP of a small nation.
In fact, it’s hard to see him getting significant game time for the Wallabies in the coming end-of-year tour, where Grand Slam Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland are on the menu.
The Australia XV fixtures against Bristol and England A look like good introduction opportunities for Suaalii, but inclusion in those games would rule him out of the full Tests against England and Wales, leaving Scotland and Ireland as the remaining options for a full debut.
But the latter two games aren’t the “experiment Tests” they used to be. For example, when Israel Folau made the transition to rugby in 2013, Ireland were No.9 in the world, and the Scots were 10th.
The main challenge that Suaalii faces, however, is getting used to the enormous physicality in Test rugby, especially as it relates to the post-tackle contest.
There are no statistics that cover how brutal the battle for possession has become in any good standard of rugby, really from the Currie Cup/NPC upwards.
If the quality of a player’s carry or clean isn’t at a very high standard on the attacking side of the ball, they’ll get eaten up in Test rugby.
And if the quality of a player’s collision work or ability to contest the ball isn’t at a very high standard on the defensive side of the ball, they’ll get eaten up in Test rugby.
Hard-running Highlander Thomas Umaga-Jensen awaits Suaalii and the Waratahs in round one. Credit: Getty
Further, there are no positions on the field any more that exempt a player from this sort of dirty work – they have to do it all.
That will be particularly true if the Wallabies and Waratahs see Suaalii as a midfielder.
One of the differences between the codes – as a result of the NRL’s transformation in a running game – is how big the athletes in rugby have become.
For example, the Waratahs are set to play the Highlanders in the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific next year.
That draw has widely been seen as sympathetic to the Waratahs, but if the Highlanders are at full strength their starting midfielders could well be Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Tanielu Tele’a at 108kg and 107kg respectively.
The power element is enormous in rugby, and it was touched upon when this masthead spoke to All Blacks midfield great Tana Umaga last week and the current crop of New Zealand midfielder was discussed.
Umaga went in to bat for Rieko Ioane, despite his critics, on account of Ioane’s ability to put his head down and get over the gainline as well as stop tries with his speed and size. Ioane is 107kg.
Umaga’s assessment was an indication of how modern coaches see the midfield role. So much of it is based around physicality, winning the battle for inches on attack, and putting your head in dark places in defence.
Suaalii is no shrinking violet. He’s got a big frame and loves to carry the ball, but in Test rugby his space is about to disappear, he’ll have to quickly work out the brutality and complexity of the breakdown, and the size of his opponents is about to go up a level.
