If you ever needed proof the NRL convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is hyper competitive, you don’t need to look much further than the most recent Wallabies team photo.
The former Sydney Roosters star has made a blistering start to his rugby career after being parachuted straight into a battling Wallabies outfit after the NRL season had finished.
He had an immediate impact with a man-of-the-match performance on debut in a stunning win over England, before coming off the bench to help the Aussies annihilate Wales.
However, a bizarre act by the former NRL star in the team photo ahead of the Wales clash has now come to light.
‘This is the team photo before the Wales Test, Joseph Suaalii in the second row, second from the left there,’ presenter Michael Atkinson said on Stan Rugby.
‘This is a bloke who is about six foot tall, six foot five and he thinks he still needs to get on tiptoes.’
Suaalii, pictured second from left in the second row, appears to be one of tallest in the team
Closer inspection shows that the former Roosters star was on his tip toes for the photo
The prized Wallabies recruit has revealed his relationship with alcohol is very different to that of most footy players
Former Wallaby Tim Horan revealed that Suaalii was not Robinson Crusoe when it came to this practice.
‘Everyone, all of the backs do that,’ he said.
‘All the backs get on tippy toes.’
Suaalii himself has also recently revealed another competitive advantage he has over many other players.
Speaking on the Straight Talk with Mark Bouris podcast, he revealed he had never touched alcohol in his life.
‘I’ve never actually had a sip of alcohol, ever,’ he admitted.
‘My parents never drank, I’ve never seen them drink growing up and I’ve always had fun without it. I’ll go out still.’
As a teenager signed by the Sydney Roosters, it would have been easy for Suaalii to have been led down another path, however he revealed one of his teammates helped him stay on the straight and narrow.
Suaalii made an explosive debut for the Wallabies against England (pictured) after being thrown in the deep end after the NRL season
The centre was just as damaging coming off the bench in the Wallabies’ win against Wales
‘I felt like another person who helped me out a lot was Joey Manu,’ he said.
‘He doesn’t drink, he’s very comfortable in his own skin.
‘Once I first come in the NRL and I saw him doing that too, I was like I want to do it.
‘That’s my bro, I want to do what he’s going to do.’
Now the door has opened for Suaalii to return to the starting side against Scotland in the Wallabies quest for a Spring Tour Grand Slam after a three-match suspension ended Samu Kerevi’s tour.
The centre’s yellow card for a high shot was upgraded to a 20-minute red in Australia’s defeat of Wales in Cardiff on Sunday (AEST).
On Wednesday the 31-year-old’s fate was sealed, a disciplinary committee upholding the on-field decision and halving the standard six-week ban due to his guilt, remorse and good record.
Kerevi can scratch another game off that suspension if he completes World Rugby’s coaching intervention program. But his British Isles tour is over.
He’ll miss this weekend’s Scotland Test and his Japanese club side Urayasu D-Rocks’ first trial game.
The final Ireland Test falls outside the international window. Kerevi was unavailable for that match anyway and therefore not considered by the panel.
The Wales Test was Kerevi’s first in 13 months, since their ill-fated World Cup.
Suaalii, who came off the bench against Wales, is primed to return to the starting position he impressed in on debut against England a fortnight ago.
Other options include Hamish Stewart and Josh Flook, who have joined the top side from the touring Australian XV squad following Dylan Pietsch’s injury.
