Former NRL flyer Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii took the rugby world by storm last November, receiving Player of the Match honours on debut for the Wallabies in an all-time classic 42-37 win over England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.
Suaalii hadn’t played any Super Rugby Pacific or even Shute Shield before stepping into the Test arena with skill, flair and composure. Max Jorgensen was the hero, as the winger raced down the left edge to score the winner, but it was Suaalii who captured headlines worldwide.
After an impressive rookie season with the NSW Waratahs, which saw the fullback named in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year, Suaalii is primed for some massive Test matches coming up – starting with Fiji before the three-Test series against the British & Irish Lions.
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About one month on from a concerning injury against the Reds, Suaalii recently told reporters in Sydney that he was “97 per cent” recovered from a fractured jaw. Suaalii will be one to watch during the Lions Series, with Kurtley Beale describing the code-hopper as a “super talent.”
“He’s a super talent. We saw that in England last year,” Beale told reporters.
“He’s got that kind of unpredictability, he’s hot that physical presence as well, and he’s got a real aura. I think the best thing about him is that he can lift the guys around him… it’s a pretty great attribute to have.
“No doubt the Wallabies will be building nicely and aware of the challenge ahead but will go into game one full of confidence.”
Suaalii started at outside centre on debut for the Wallabies before dropping back to the bench one week later against Wales in Cardiff. But coach Joe Schmidt returned Suaalii to the midfield for Tests against Scotland and Ireland – setting up world-class positional battles.
After coming up against Scotland’s midfield pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, Suaalii lined up opposite Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw. Three of those four have been selected in the 2025 Lions squad, with Aki and Tuipulotu linking up in the midfield against Argentina.
Coach Schmidt commented on that “southern-hemisphere combination” last week in Sydney, as they’re from New Zealand and Australia respectively, the Wallabies will have their work cut out for them regardless of who suits up at 12 and 13.
But so too will the Lions, with Beale highlighting the midfield combination of Suaalii and Ikitau as the “dangermen” for the Wallabies ahead of the Lions Series. 12 months ago Suaalii was playing in the NRL, but now, he’ll bring genuine X-Factor to a Wallabies side ready to make some noise.
“I think Joe Schmidt’s got a great coaching staff behind him and I think the Wallabies are building nicely,” Beale said.
“I think the Northern Hemisphere tour last year was a really good indication of that, really testing those teams up there and building a lot of cohesion and connection and I think that’s going to be important going into the Lions Series.
“The centre pairing, I’d probably go with Lenny Ikitau and [Joseph-Aukuso] Suaalii there, and I think they’re our dangermen.
“If you forward pack can lay that platform up front, really challenges the Lions in set-piece which is going to be crucial… there’s going to be some exciting backs are thriving off that.”
