Secret $4 million Rugby Australia contract clause puts road block in Joseph Suaalii's NRL return
Updated . First published at
The chances of Joseph Suaalii returning to the NRL before 2030 seem remote due to a secret $4 million clause that could extend his time in rugby.
Suaalii signed a record-breaking three-year contract worth a reported $5.3 million with Rugby Australia but the deal reportedly also includes a two-year player option.
The option gives the player the right to trigger a further two years on the contract, taking the value of the deal to more than $8 million over five years, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Watch the Wallabies, Wallaroos and All Blacks with every match ad free, live and on demand on the home of rugby, Stan Sport
Joseph Suaalii. Matt King via Getty Images
The $2 million-a-year player option reduces hope of Suaalii's return to the NRL, considering the highest paid player in the league, Kalyn Ponga, currently earns around $1.4 million a season.
The Sydney Roosters recently agreed to release Suaalii from the final few weeks of his NRL deal, which expires on October 31, to allow the 21-year-old to join the Wallabies in camp ahead of their Spring Tour of the UK and Ireland next month.
He is expected to join the Wallabies squad in Sydney on Monday.
READ MORE: Test hopeful's nightmare start to Sheffield Shield season
READ MORE: Reserve grader called up as injury crisis hits Kiwis
READ MORE: Tragic life of league great who 'died of a broken heart'
Barring injury, there's no doubt Suaalii will represent his country against the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia next year.
His three-year deal also includes a World Cup on home soil in 2027.
