Suaalii’s ‘Ferrari’ Attributes Blunted at Centre, Say Rugby Greats
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, a player lauded for his exceptional, almost “Ferrari-like” attributes, is finding his game being stifled by his current role at outside centre, according to prominent rugby figures Morgan Turinui and Michael Hooper. While Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has exclusively deployed Suaalii in the No. 13 jersey, a stark contrast to his previous year’s role at fullback under Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, the early season results for NSW have been positive. The Waratahs currently boast a 2-0 record, with winger Max Jorgensen proving particularly devastating.
However, Suaalii’s individual statistical output has been noticeably muted. Statistician Kate Lorimer reports that Suaalii is averaging a mere 2 metres per ball carry, accumulating just 32 running metres from 16 carries over the two games. While he has managed to beat three defenders, he also leads Super Rugby as an outside centre in offloads with four. Defensively, Suaalii has been solid, conceding three turnovers but making no missed tackles from 15 attempts.
Former Test centre Morgan Turinui expressed his view on Stan Sport’s “Between Two Posts,” suggesting that outside centre is Suaalii’s “third-best position” but acknowledging the strategic reasoning behind the selection. “It’s fine, because of the balance,” Turinui stated. “They moved (Len) Ikitau to 12 at Wallabies. They’ve got Tom Wright at fullback at Wallabies. If Joe Schmidt thinks he’s a 13, and Les Kiss agrees, then the more he plays 13, the better, because they’re probably pot-committed about what position he’s playing now. He’s halfway to the World Cup and he’s played a lot there, so the Wallabies obviously think that they’ve got it right.”
Turinui also highlighted the tactical considerations for the Waratahs. “Dan McKellar is trying to balance it, he’s got great options everywhere else. So maybe that’s where he fits for the Tahs, but one, it’s not an easy position to play in attack or defence. Two, you are often the decoy for the back three players getting the ball. Happens a lot. They obviously move him back there (back field) to catch some high balls as well a bit, so you move him around, but as soon as you have moving parts in a game, your error rate can go up as well, while you’re trying to figure it out. So it’s just not a perfect situation for him.”
Suaalii, who was a finalist for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2025, possesses evident strengths that are not always being fully exploited in his current role.
“His best thing is right-hand side of the field, right arm carry, left-hand fend, offload, so yeah, you can manipulate position to get him in that situation,” Turinui explained. “We’ve seen him in that situation once in two games, where they threw a cut ball to him in round one and he to throw the left to right (pass) to the wing, and they didn’t execute it. And that’s all we’ve seen from him in his best position.”
Despite the quiet start to the season for the highly-paid NRL recruit, Turinui urged Australian rugby fans not to panic. “Effort, attitude, everything we’re seeing there, absolutely outstanding,” he noted. “And feedback around training group and the environment, Waratahs, absolute leader of the first degree, outstanding. We’re just not quite getting the output in a 13 jersey. Winger would be the easiest position for him to play, fullback, well, I would think would be his best position, and 13’s a bit harder than those two.”
Wallabies and Waratahs legend Michael Hooper echoed these sentiments, advocating for Suaalii to be positioned in the back three. “I think he should be on the wing, or fullback,” the Test centurion and former skipper stated. “I don’t think he’s a 13 at Wallabies level either. Seeing other guys with his type of frame, they were better suited to the back three. So I’m only going off the evidence that I had. I don’t think we’re seeing the value that he has to offer… I’m one of the many that would love to see Joseph in positions to make reads in defence – because the guy can hit as good as anyone – and then also getting the ball in hand in open space. So it’s a matter of time. Still, I’m convinced it’s going to work out. I’m just not sure how it’s going to fit in.”
Sean Maloney, host of “Between Two Posts” and lead commentator, delivered a passionate analogy: “You’ve got to put the Ferrari on the open road. You’ve got to put the foot down, you’ve got to get the good fuel in there and just let him go. At the moment he’s going round the Bunnings carpark at Warringah Mall, over the speed bumps. Let him go.”
Brumbies and Waratahs Showcase Attacking Prowess
Beyond the discussion surrounding Suaalii, the early stages of the Super Rugby Pacific season have seen Australian teams, particularly the Brumbies and Waratahs, adopting a more expansive and attacking style of play. The Waratahs’ current 2-0 record sees them sitting second on the ladder, mirroring the Brumbies’ success with two bonus-point victories.
There’s a growing sentiment in New Zealand that the Australian outfits are favouring a more ball-in-hand approach compared to their Kiwi counterparts. All Blacks great Jeff Wilson observed, “The way they’ve played compared to the New Zealand teams, we’ve used blunt force trauma. We’ve tried to go through the middle of teams a lot, in New Zealand currently, whereas they’re prepared, they know they have to go through the edges, and they’re getting better at doing it.”
The Brumbies, long considered Australia’s premier Super Rugby franchise, are looking to break a title drought that stretches back to 2004. Ex-All Blacks hooker James Parsons believes that Stephen Larkham’s influence has significantly evolved the Brumbies’ attacking game. The Brumbies currently lead the competition in both time in possession and ball-in-play time.
On Sunday, the Brumbies delivered a dominant performance, walloping the Crusaders 50-24, which propelled them back to the top of the table. Their tactical approach is further underscored by their significantly lower kicking game compared to New Zealand teams. The Brumbies have kicked the ball 46 times, a stark contrast to the Highlanders (74), Crusaders (68), and Chiefs (61), who lead the competition in this area.
Turinui lauded the Brumbies’ victory over the Crusaders, calling it an “exceptional” performance. “I was trying to rank it in the Brumbies’ victories in the history of Super Rugby. They’ve won two titles. They went to South Africa and won a sudden death final. They put 50 on the Tahs in ’02 in a semi in Sydney. It’s a top five or six performance in the history of the Brumbies, and that’s saying something.”
