Meet the ‘new Sam Burgess’ who Eddie Jones pulled out all the stops to lure to the Wallabies despite not having played rugby union since school, as mega-money Joseph Sua’ali’i sets his sights on taking down England at Twickenham

It was at a BBQ overlooking Sydney Harbour Bridge where Joseph Sua’ali’i accepted one of the biggest cheques in the history of Australian rugby.

He was eating Portuguese chicken with Eddie Jones and Hamish McLennan last summer, the coach and chairman of Rugby Australia at the time had both turned on the charm.

Keen to make a splash in the market, Jones and McLennan set their sights on poaching two of their country’s biggest rugby league assets: Sua’ali’i and Cameron Murray.

Sua’ali’i was not long out of school, where he played union, and was making his name as one of the most athletic backs in the NRL with the Sydney Roosters.

McLennan took it upon himself to sign him up, talking to him for months before he brought his family round to his waterfront home to sign off a cross-code contract worth almost $5million. It was the biggest cross-code deal since Sam Burgess.

Sua’ali’i, 21, has joined up with the Wallabies for the first time on their autumn tour and he could now make his professional 15-a-side debut against England on Saturday.

‘Eddie thought he was a superstar,’ McLennan told Mail Sport. ‘I asked the question: “Has anyone spoke to Sua’ali’i?” No one had bothered to call him, so I called him directly. I wouldn’t have done it if Eddie wasn’t keen. 

‘No-one thought we could get him because he was so tied into the league system and the Roosters are a top team. 

‘He was a lovely guy. I asked him if he wanted to come and play rugby and he told me he’d always dreamed of playing for the Waratahs or the Wallabies. He said: “It’s all football to me.”

‘His agent came back with a request to meet the family so I got them all over for dinner. It was myself, Eddie, Joseph, Phil Waugh [CEO], Joseph’s parents – Celina and Chris – my wife Lucinda, daughter Olivia and her boyfriend, Alex. We had a BBQ and Lucinda cooked her Portuguese chicken. We all had a great time and Joseph agreed to come across.’

Sua’ali’i’s defection has been back-page news in Australia. He will be one of the Wallaby poster boys for the 2025 Lions tour and 2027 World Cup; following the likes of Israel Folau, Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor to have crossed the league-union divide down under.

‘Union has been raided by league talent scouts for 20 years,’ added McLennan. ‘That’s why the Wallabies have fallen off their perch. Rugby Australia has had dysfunctional pathways and we’ve also lost talent to the AFL.

‘I’d say Joseph’s already paid for himself. I’d say we’ve had 50 million bucks worth of publicity. Every game of rugby league they’ve been talking about how he’s going to union. He’ll sell out stadiums.

‘It’s bigger than the Sam Burgess code switch. Sam was a pretty big star over here but Sua’ali’i is bigger. As great a player as Sam Burgess was, Joseph will be bigger. Joseph grew up with rugby and everyone down here sees his potential.

‘Whether it’s rugby league or rugby union, everyone in Australia agrees he’s a once-in-a-generation player. He’s so talented that he can go straight into the Test squad without playing Super Rugby.’’

Sua’ali’i has arrived in union with glowing references. At 6ft 5in, he has already proved himself under the high ball at the highest level of rugby league. His speed and power earned him a call-up to the State of Origin and he has the versatility to play wing, full-back or centre.

‘To come in and be the highest paid player in rugby just shows what they think of him,’ said All Black code-switcher Sonny-Bill Williams. ‘I’ve met him in and around the Roosters. When you look at him up close, you know he’s an athlete.

‘Ask Sam Burgess how hard it was to go from the forwards to the midfield. Ask Benji Marshall how hard it was to learn about being a half-back. Joseph grew up playing rugby so he knows the game. He’s been playing league for the last few years but he’ll know about the nuances around the ruck and the breakdown.

‘When you’re an outside back, like Joseph, the difference isn’t so big. In the midfield you’re a thinking player, you have a voice, you’re looking at defensive shapes, what’s a player’s bad habits… that’s what Joseph will have to think about but he’s already played in those outside back roles. 

‘His job in league has been to get on the outside, make breaks, score tries, light it up. He’s good under the high ball so that will be another one of his strengths if he’s put on the wing at Test level.’

His schoolboy experience of union makes him a ready-made weapon. Rumours are flying that he will be thrown in at the deep end this weekend, a surprise weapon under World Rugby’s rule changes that have made the aerial battle more contestable.

‘He’s been training really well,’ said Wallabies team-mate Samu Kerevi. ‘We’ve had him for a couple of days now and he’s been hitting me up with so many questions, details like latching onto a breakdown. 

‘We’ve seen him play State of Origin, we’ve seen him play in the top level of rugby league. Even though it’s a different game, the translation of how he competes, he’s there. Physically, he’s there.

‘Even as a 21-year-old, he reminds me of Israel Folau. I know he’s keen to get his hands on a Test jersey and play footy so I think he’ll be ready. He backs himself, which is what you want. 

‘His attention to detail is really good because he wants to learn the game more, know the game really well, and execute it under Test lights.’