Brandon Smith has questioned whether ‘a $1.6m winger from the Roosters’ is the answer for Australian rugby as the NRL prepares for more poachings
On Saturday, Rugby Australia confirmed it had signed Suaalii to a three-year contract worth around $1.6m a year that will have him available for the Waratahs at Super Rugby level, as well as the Wallabies in next year’s British & Irish Lions series and at the 2027 World Cup.
“Like [ARL Commission chair] Peter V’landys said, ‘go over, get that easy money and then come back to the real sport’. That $1.6m could’ve been spent better on the grassroots of rugby.” Rugby Australia does not have the financial wherewithal to hand out $1.6m contracts willy-nilly but the Roosters are resigned to Jones spruiking union to other NRL players.
“He’s definitely thought about it, whether he does it or not I don’t know, it’d be hard to leave the Storm for him,” Smith said. “He’s been there since day dot but [union] suits his lifestyle as well. He loves to travel.
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