EXCLUSIVE: Why Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was 'burning deep down' after moment that defined code-hopping journey

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii says his rugby league "toughness" will serve him well as he prepares for a high stakes Wallabies debut on Sunday (AEDT).

Australia coach Joe Schmidt has wasted no time fast tracking Suaalii back into rugby, naming the prodigiously gifted 21-year-old to start at outside centre against England in front of more than 80,000 fans at Twickenham.

Schmidt admits it is a calculated risk - just six weeks after his NRL career ended - but one he is willing to take ahead of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour.

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"I've always known what I want to do with my life and I've always seen the Spring Tour, the Lions tour and a home World Cup - it's always been a dream for myself," Suaalii told Stan Sport in an exclusive sit down interview.

"And even playing for the Waratahs, it was a dream for myself ever since I was a young kid."

Suaalii revealed his father tried to get him on a league field when he was three but "they wouldn't let me, he faked my age! But I could remember holding the ball since I was born."

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While Suaalii's rugby instincts and knowledge of the laws may understandably be a little rusty in London, his thirst for contact certainly won't be.

"I feel like the toughness of carry, being able to bring that across to union, my aerial game too... I feel like that would be another thing I'd bring, but also bringing more skills I know I have," he said.

"Passing, kicking, seeing space and then, yeah, just beating defenders. I feel like that's always been a strength of mine."

NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson and Sam Worthington react to the big news that Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will make his Wallabies debut against England

Suaalii has strong memories of watching the 2013 Lions tour when Israel Folau and Kurtley Beale were his idols.

Folau scored two tries on Test debut - no pressure Joseph - while a young Suaalii's heart was broken when watching Beale slip on his game winning penalty kick.

"I was burning, like deep down," he remembers.

"Ever since then I've always wanted to put on the Wallabies jersey."

Such was his reputation, former coach Michael Cheika brought Suaalii into Wallabies camp when he was in "year eight or nine."

"It was cool just to even be around the the squad. Yeah, it's pretty weird, even just thinking about having a potential debut of playing for your country," he said.

"You see the Lions tours and you see the World Cups and you always want to play in them one day and especially put on the Wallabies jersey."

Suaalii was a star of the Australia under-18 team that beat New Zealand Schools in 2019 but he turned down Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga to instead represent beaten finalists Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022.

"I feel like it'll be very special for my family," he said of wearing gold again.

"Especially my little sisters, still in school. I feel like they'll be very proud, especially with my parents as well. We're all very proud Australians.

"So, yeah, it'll be a special moment."

ENGLAND (15-1): George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Tommy Freeman, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Chandler Cunningham-South, George Martin, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (c), Ellis Genge

Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Ollie Sleightholme

WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell

Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen