Joseph Sua'ali'i already a 'world star' after spectacular showing in professional rugby union debut
Published 09/11/2024 at 18:51 GMT
Rugby league convert Joseph Sua'ali'i began the journey of justifying his million-dollar code switch as he delivered a stunning Wallabies debut in their 42-37 win over England at Twickenham. The 21-year-old was Australia’s standout player in his first rugby union match since switching from NRL side Sydney Roosters, and was a constant thorn in England's side.
Superb Sua'ali'i offload tees up Wright for Australia's first try
Video credit: TNT Sports
Joseph Sua'ali'i won a deserved player of the match in his first professional rugby union match as Australia sealed a 42-37 win over England at Twickenham, and his performance drew praise from the TNT Sports pundits.
Twickenham witnessed the birth of a star as the rugby league convert delivered an impressive debut performance in both attack and defence, assisting for the Wallabies' opening score and having a crucial hand in their winning try too.
The 21-year-old, who stands at 6'5", completed a long-awaited and expensive switch from rugby league to union, moving from NRL side Sydney Roosters to Super Rugby club Waratahs in the summer.
The cross-code wonder unleashed his box of tricks at Allianz Stadium, leaping freakishly high above England players multiple times, showing off his offloading skills, and proving himself to be a game-changer over 80 minutes.
Ben Kay praised him after Max Jorgensen's game-winning try in the final play of the contest and made it clear that Sua'ali'i delivered the match's standout performance.
"A man who’s made his professional rugby union debut and looks like a world star already," Kay said on TNT Sports. "Joseph Sua'ali'i is our player of the match. Absolutely outstanding future ahead of this guy. The ceiling is massive and he could very well become an absolute star of this game."
Co-commentator Austin Healey chipped in, saying: "He wears anti-gravity boots by the looks of things. What an incredible rugby player that guy is."
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TNT Sports pundit Danny Care likened the youngster to former Australia fullback and fellow dual-code player Israel Folau for his incredible aerial awareness and skill, and also likened him to another famous cross-code star in Sonny Bill Williams.
"Joseph Sua'ali'i is a superstar in the making," Care said. "Well, he is a superstar already. You can see he already has that Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams superstar mindset. You could see it before the game.
"I've not seen many lads walk out with bare feet just feeling the game, just feeling the environment, like 'This is my turf, I'm born to play here. I'm gonna show what I can do.' You can do that, and then the best players come and back it up.
"He certainly backed it up, he was brilliant."
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Australia break England hearts with dramatic winning try deep into added time
Video credit: TNT Sports
Fast-tracked into Joe Schmidt's national setup, the Wallabies rookie was handed a start in a huge Autumn Nations Series match against England, one of the sport's most famous rivalries.
As one of the NRL's greatest young talents in the last few years, Sua'ali'i arrived in union with a million-dollar price to his name.
His first major impact came for Tom Wright's try in the 27th minute. He beat England winger Ollie Sleightholme and sucked in George Furbank, using his height to throw a basketball-like pass over the fullback's head for Wright to stroll in for the score.
Sua'ali'i was a constant thorn in an England side who missed over 30 tackles by the game's end, and he got the better of Maro Itoje in the 80th minute, helping force a knock-on to give Australia the crucial scrum that led to their winning try.
Stream the 2024 Autumn Nations Series on TNT Sports and discovery+
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