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Revraiser wrote:I could google, but I'd rather try and keep this place humming... is Suaali playing for a super rugby club as of 2025, as all I hear is he is playing for the Wallabies.
Isn't rugby union both embarrassed and worried at the same time, the fact they have to poach for established players from other codes.
I know younger players are often poached prior to being established in either code, but what does it say about rugby union grassroots that they need to grab rugby leagues established stars (Sailor, Rogers, Loti, Suaalii - just a couple of the top) to fill out the Wallabies squad.
From what I hear, the layers/grassroots doesnt exist for the code, as the quality at the Uni level is falling in Oz and its just about the prestige of going to one of the shiny Uni/schools.
Union had their chance in Aus
Went professional the same time RL was in shambles due to SL war, big groundswell of support and cash culminating in hosting 2003 WC. Instead of restructuring the sport to grow from grassroots they’ve maintained the traditional class based pathways and squandered the cash.
Aware guys like Suallii have played both - typically league first, then get a scholarship to a private school to play Union - but after that the initial decision is pretty easy as an 18yo player in Sydney. One sport has a clear pathway from junior reps to reserve grade/dev contract to NRL. The other has 7 elite private schools with scholarships, then suburban semi-professional clubs (pretty much all in north and east Sydney), then super rugby. If you want to develop as a footy player, you would choose RL 99/100 rather than fucking about with club rugby. The next contract, sure, take the money and run.
Wallabies are apparently after NAS as well.
