‘He’s coming back’: Suaalii makes Roosters boss huge promise amid looming $5m payday
As the NRL ramps up its war with Rugby Australia, Roosters chairman Nick Politis has delivered another hammer blow to the rival code, revealing Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has told him he will be returning to the Tricolours in 2028 after his three-year stint playing the 15-man game.
In an interview where Politis also slammed two Dragons players as “jealous” and “stupid”, the 80-year-old billionaire was asked about the club’s loss of Suaalii to Rugby Australia on a deal worth a reported $4.8 million following the 2024 season.
“Joseph is a good guy, a good kid,” Politis told Channel 9.
“It’s sad that we’ve lost him to union, but he tells us he’s coming back in 2028.”
Asked if he would welcome Suaalii back to the club following his stint in rugby, Politis said: “Of course. Always a Rooster.”
That’s despite speculation the Roosters and Politis were furious at the way the talented 20-year-old and his manager Isaac Moses secretly negotiated their deal with Rugby Australia while keeping his NRL club totally in the dark.
However while it was billed as a huge victory for the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs (where Suaalii will play his club football) at the time, and a trigger for a signing spree of NRL talent to the 15-man code – Suaalii’s deal now appears more like a headache for RA management.
Firstly the onslaught of signings never came, with fellow Roosters star Angus Crichton’s $1.6m deal with RA even collapsing at the last minute.
Secondly there’s a view the young outside back’s monster salary in rugby, reportedly $1.6m per year, will inflate the player market and leave many more established rugby stars jealous at their relatively meagre remuneration.
A huge drawcard for Suaalii’s switch to rugby was the ability to play for the Wallabies at the 2027 Rugby World Cup at home in Australia, and also to take part in the British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia in 2025.
While big international events such as those can’t be matched by the NRL, the 13-man code is doing everything in its power to exact revenge on rugby by enticing Australia’s rugby union starts to switch to rugby league.
On Tuesday NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo gave the strongest indication yet that the Australian Rugby League Commission could give the green light to grant salary cap exemptions to clubs who recruit players from rival codes.
For years there was talk about a war chest that could be spent on luring the biggest names from other sports around the world, and now that’s seemingly becoming reality as Abdo confirmed that salary cap exemptions were on the table and would be discussed at next month’s board meeting.
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