A John Eales medal winner and a two-time World Rugby player of the year were relegated to the role of second fiddles by Wallabies and Waratahs star recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at Wednesday’s Super Rugby season launch at Little Bay.
Brumbies star Rob Valetini and Auckland Blues main man Beauden Barrett were representing their teams. But for attending media, a beeline was made for the man on a deal that could be worth as much as $8 million.
The adjustment to becoming one of the main acts not only for his club but also his entire code after a supporting role with the NRL’s Sydney Roosters is a change Suaalii is embracing.
“With the Roosters’ big names I was just a bit more quiet, I didn’t really say too much,” Suaalii said.
“I understand my whole new role here, especially coming to rugby, to build the community and just bring rugby back where it needs to be, but it’s just not on myself, it’s a team game at the end of the day too.”
Last Saturday, Suaalii missed out on playing against the Brumbies in Bowral due to a sore knee. But the Waratahs’ prized asset is back training and is expected to start against the Highlanders on Valentine’s Day at Allianz Stadium.
“I just had a bit of a knee problem throughout the week,” Suaalii said. “I went into the physios and the physio said I wasn’t ready to play.
“It was just a precautionary thing for a trial game, I’m sure if it was round one I would have been playing.
“I was disappointed in myself that I didn’t get to go to Bowral and play there because I was really looking forward to it.”
Suaalii was due to play fullback against the Brumbies and has also been occasionally wearing the No.14 jersey in training, but he is unclear where he is likely to be playing.
Beauden Barrett and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii pose during the 2025 Super Rugby season launch on Wednesday.Credit: Getty Images
“I don’t really see rugby as a positions kind of thing, as much you got to put a number on your back, I feel like honestly, I’m happy to play anywhere,” Suaalii said.
“I know you can bring different styles of footy from playing wing to centre to fullback, anywhere on the footy field, I’m happy to play.”
After facing the stingy defences of international rugby, Suaalii will relish expressing himself in the more free-flowing style of Super Rugby. His rugby muscle memory is getting stronger each week, but he is taking one thing from the NRL that will help him impact Super Rugby.
‘It’s just not on myself, it’s a team game at the end of the day.’
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
“The toughness of the game, I’m not saying rugby is not tough at all, but league’s a tough game, you’ve got to take those hard carries,” Suaalii said.
“And I feel like that’s helped me a lot, just being able to know I’ve got that toughness in the way I play, but I feel like it’s a base.
“Now that I’m learning to kick, the pass, different micro-skills that I didn’t really get to showcase in rugby league. I feel like now I’ve got that option to play both sides on the field and use my different skills that I feel like I haven’t really used.”
Meanwhile, fresh from a stint with Michael Hooper’s new club Toyota Verblitz, the All Blacks’ Barrett is keen for Japanese clubs to enter Super Rugby.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii of the Waratahs speaks during the 2025 Super Rugby Season LaunchCredit: Getty Images
“I think it’ll be a natural progression for this competition to grow,” Barrett said. “I know that in the past, the players and the fans, really saw the benefit and value out of South African teams.
“Japanese rugby from a performance and product is ready to go, like the standard is very high, and I know first hand that it’s almost on par with the added value of the South African rugby players who play up there, some English players and lot of Kiwis and Australians.
“So it would make a lot of sense to grow the competition using Japan, it’s a similar time zone and they’re a powerhouse.”
Barrett is also open to the idea of All Blacks playing for Australian clubs and vice versa if it helps retain players in Super Rugby for both nations.
“I think ultimately, it’ll keep players in New Zealand Rugby or Australian Rugby, so to speak, as opposed to going up to Europe because you’ll get a change of scenery,” Barrett said.
Watch all the action from the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season, with every match ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
