Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Ironically, now that we have JAS we could field Carter more comfortably.
Australian Rugby / RA
- Thread starter Dave Beat
- Start date
The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
Lets hope he has to watch a Lions Test next year on TV the same weekend he has a Q Cup game v in Mackay.
dru
David Wilson (68)
I dont at all follow mungo, though I do respect their athletes. All the same, did Marky-Mark make his professional NRL debut for the Kangaroos against, I dont know, what is the equivalent of England at Twickers?
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
the equivalent would be straight into SOO. My point is he made the transition seamlessly as well because he's a freak. Anyway league are just jealous they'll never get to recreate the past weekend, the Kangaroos actually won their little toy championship and no one noticed or cared.
KOB1987
John Eales (66)
that kind of gets covered in this article:
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...y/news-story/89a1183e4496b0ad975a48fe89804393
“The birth of a star”.
Former NRL gun Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i had the UK’s rugby media fawning and their supporters suddenly worried after his man-of-the-match performance on debut for the Wallabies at Twickenham.
The hype lived up to the billing as 21-year-old Sua'ali'i made a statement at the home of rugby, and now has millions of British & Irish Lions fans wondering if their tour to Australia next year might not be the walkover many were predicting.
With all eyes on the $5 million man playing his first professional rugby game, Sua'ali'i set up Australia’s first try, made several offloads, won three kick-offs and completed a sensational catch-and-pass off a chip kick to announce himself as the real deal.
The Times columnist Stuart Barnes wrote: “Earlier this week, very few England watchers would have known the name of the Wallabies’ No 13, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, but here we were, a little short of 40 minutes on the clock and thousands at Twickenham were producing a collective gasp of relief as England finally managed to bring down the 21-year-old debutant. The home crowd had recognised the birth of a star.”
Fellow Times analyst Stephen Jones wrote: “But what they did have was Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, playing his first game of senior rugby union after being poached from rugby league in Australia. He should have been a panicky old sight, he should have been hounded to destruction. Instead the young man played gloriously, made a try out of a breathtaking pop pass out of a tackle and all in all played magnificently. Almost all the converts to union from rugby league in Australia has been useless, but here is a man that may well be worth the monster fee that has been paid for him.”
Former England playmaker Andy Goode said on X: “This guy Joseph Sua'ali'i is a rock star! Skills from another planet!”
Dylan Coetzee wrote for Planet Rugby: “There were question marks when Schmidt picked the million-dollar man but he produced the goods. Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, remember that name because today a special Wallaby was born.”
The Times’ rugby correspondent Alex Lowe said the result was a bonus for the Lions series. “Nobody wants to build up a Lions tour that everyone expects the Lions to win 3-0, you want there to be jeopardy and a challenge,” Lowe said.
“And if Australia have uncovered in Sua'ali'i a new global superstar then that’s just brilliant for the game. He’ll bring rugby league fans into union, he’ll attract other league players to come back, he’ll attract the schoolboys who like him play union and league to choose union, that’s why they’ve spent $5 million on a three-year deal for this guy.”
Veteran rugby writer Alex Spink wrote for Planet Rugby: “In Sua'ali'i they saw a superstar to lure eyeballs from the NRL, the AFL, the baggy greens and Matildas and back to a sport which, according to a recent report, ranks only ninth in popularity in Australia.”
The Daily Mail’s rugby correspondent Chris Foy said: “Sua'ali'i is going to light up this code”.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, who had received criticism for playing Sua'ali'i just four weeks after he’d joined camp, said the risk paid off.
“Joseph obviously got a few kick-offs back for us, he’s a bit of an aerial freak but at the same time it was a good learning experience for Joseph as well,” Schmidt said.
“I know there were some doubts expressed about him being selected and the risk. I think people would now see the opportunity of involving a young man like that. Particularly the way he prepared during the week, I thought he was really professional.
“He certainly has a rugby pedigree, albeit having played a few years of professional rugby league, which has made him a really professional young man.
“He is incredibly diligent around his preparation. That diligence pays off in the way that he performs. He’s still probably finding his feet in the game. There are subtleties that are very different, but with that diligent work ethic, that professionalism and the athleticism that he possesses, I thought it was a really confidence-boosting debut.”
Adam Kyriacou wrote for Planet Rugby: “The former rugby league man was outstanding with and without the ball as he demonstrated his skill-set all afternoon, showing no signs of nerves on the big occasion. Joe Schmidt and Rugby Australia have got themselves a gem and if this is his first game we can’t wait for more.”
And Mike Henson on BBC Sport said: “Schmidt’s big gamble of thrusting new rugby league recruit Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i into midfield for his first union game since his schooldays paid off handsomely.
“The 21-year-old jigged across Twickenham’s turf barefooted before the warm-ups, getting the size of the stage, and looked completely at home as he set up Tom Wright’s try with the most delicious finger roll this side of a sushi platter.”
Mick The Munch
Vay Wilson (31)
So was Hamish right?
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
I think most people agreed JAS had the potential be a strong performer, and that he was as good a poach as any - it was just how the whole thing went down that rubbed people the wrong way.
I think very few people would've expected or even hoped for him to make such an impact immediately.
The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
It was the seeming ‘killer blow’ rhetoric that pissed everyone off.
We don’t need to kick the hive. Get some product and get the fuck out.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
The dick measuring contest between the horse racing guy and McLennan was insufferable.
In hindsight, it's disappointing they couldn't talk it out over some of Lucinda's Portuguese chicken.
Dismal Pillock
Michael Lynagh (62)
The Ghost of Raelene
Simon Poidevin (60)
SouthernX
John Thornett (49)
what’s with the chicken references of late…
did you not make mention of Charlie’s charcoal last week?
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
The origin story
Australian Rugby / RA
What is FOX offering? Don’t know, can’t negotiate until 1st Jan. Nine have exclusive negotiations until 31st Dec
www.greenandgoldrugby.com
dru
David Wilson (68)
WOW - this thread has stood the test of timeand is still very relevant
Welcome back Dave.
I have to say I've been very happy to see a Rugby CEO that seems to want to keep a low profile.
I reckon Hamish McLennan's given three times as many interviews as Phil Waugh lately.
But maybe it's the happy winning vibes but the overall impression I have of RA at the moment is steadiness.
I reckon Hamish McLennan's given three times as many interviews as Phil Waugh lately.
But maybe it's the happy winning vibes but the overall impression I have of RA at the moment is steadiness.
Strewthcobber
Simon Poidevin (60)
Pretty similar to Andy Marinos when he was in the role. Probably even a higher profile than Andy.
It's the Chair in Daniel Herbert who is keeping the low profile in comparison to HM
stillmissit
Peter Johnson (47)
I imagine if Hamish was in the seat we would not be hearing the end of what a genius he is etc etc. All he did was spend a bucket load of money on a guy we were too stupid to pick up at the time.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
It was very well documented that we did try to - but we couldn’t compete with a $1.7m offer from the Roosters.
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