NRL great Phil Gould has given his scathing assessment on Joseph Suaalii’s $5 million defection to rugby union.
The Sydney Roosters star has inked a three-year contract with the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Australia to join the code from 2025.
It’s an ambitious move by the 15-man code who are looking to the teenage sensation to boost the Wallabies in two years' time.
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However, it leaves the Sydney Roosters in a bit of limbo with the 19-year-old still having over a season and a half with the side before he departs.
Bulldogs boss Gould believes that the star player should pack his bags already and head off, maintaining that his presence on the field acts as a distraction to the league.
He told Nine’s 100% Footy: “Every time he scores a try. Every time he does something in our game people are going to refer to the fact that he’s going to rugby.
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“You can’t sign with any other rugby league club in that time. He can only sign somewhere else.
“He’s made his decision. I have nothing against the kid. I’ve loved having him in the NRL. He’s a tremendous athlete and is great for the game.
“But he’s decided to be a rugby player. Bye bye. Off you go.”
Suaalii’s move has certainly garnered a lot of attention and sparked a war of words between league and union since it was announced over the weekend.
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ARLC chairman Peter V’landys took a sly dig at Suaalii claiming he would be ‘paid twice the money for doing half the work’ and that he would become ‘terribly bored in union.
I mean, not the best look when the chairman admits their players can get paid a lot more money in another code.
Rugby Australia chair Hamis McLennan hit back at the critics, labelling a ‘bunch of cry babies’.
He told News Corp: “What a bunch of cry babies.
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“They have completely thrown their toys out of the cot.
Our elite players will earn more. We are in a different league as we are global with over 800 million people who follow the game and it is played in more than 100 countries.
“They can say what they want but we won’t be bullied.”
Sydney Roosters star Brendon Smith also came out with a hilarious dig at his teammate and the debacle.
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He told reporters: “A $1.6 million winger from the Roosters isn’t going to help (the Wallabies) beat the All Blacks."
Topics: Sydney Roosters, NRL, Rugby League
Jayden Collins