Between Two Posts: Suaalii shackled playing his 'third best position'; Brumbies running rings around kick-obsessed Kiwis

Morgan Turinui and Michael Hooper agree that Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's 'Ferrari' attributes are being blunted by playing at outside centre.

Suaalii has been used exclusively in the No.13 jersey by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt but Waratahs boss Dan McKellar preferred him at fullback last year.

That has changed in 2026 with Suaalii switched to midfield and James Hendren the surprise choice at No.15. It is hard to argue with the team results. NSW are 2-0 and winger Max Jorgensen is running amok.

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But Suaalii's statistical output has been muted, to say the least.

According to statistician Kate Lorimer, Suaalii has averaged just 2m per ball carry (32 run metres from 16 carries).

He has beaten three defenders from two games but is Super Rugby's leading offloader from outside centre with four.

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Suaalii has conceded three turnovers but has been rock solid in defence with no missed tackles from 15 attempts.

"Thirteen is his third best position and it's fine, because of the balance," former Test centre Turinui said on Stan Sport's Between Two Posts.

"They moved (Len) Ikitau to 12 at Wallabies. They've got Tom Wright at fullback at Wallabies. If Joe Schmidt thinks he's a 13, and Les Kiss agrees, then the more he plays 13, the better, because they're probably pot-committed about what position he's playing now. He's halfway to the World Cup and he's played a lot there, so the Wallabies obviously think that they've got it right.

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"Dan McKellar is trying to balance it, he's got great options everywhere else. So maybe that's where he fits for the Tahs, but one, it's not an easy position to play in attack or defence. Two, you are often the decoy for the back three players getting the ball.

"Happens a lot. They obviously move him back there (back field) to catch some high balls as well a bit, so you move him around, but as soon as you have moving parts in a game, your error rate can go up as well, while you're trying to figure it out. So it's just not a perfect situation for him."

Suaalii was a finalist for World Rugby's men's breakthrough player of the year in 2025, won by All Blacks lock Fabian Holland.

His strengths remain obvious but not always unlocked.

"His best thing is right-hand side of the field, right arm carry, left-hand fend, offload, so yeah, you can manipulate position to get him in that situation.

"We've seen him in that situation once in two games, where they threw a cut ball to him in round one and he to throw the left to right (pass) to the wing, and they didn't execute it. And that's all we've seen from him in his best position."

Turinui also played on the wing for the Wallabies. He said there was no need for Australian rugby fans to panic despite the highly paid NRL recruit's quiet start to the season.

"Effort, attitude, everything we're seeing there, absolutely outstanding," Turinui noted.

"And feedback around training group and the environment, Waratahs, absolute leader of the first degree, outstanding. We're just not quite getting the output in a 13 jersey.

"Winger would be the easiest position for him to play, fullback, well, I would think would be his best position, and 13's a bit harder than those two."

Wallabies and Waratahs legend Hooper concurred.

"I think he should be on the wing, or fullback," the Test centurion and former skipper said.

"I don't think he's a 13 at Wallabies level either. Seeing other guys with his type of frame, they were better suited to the back three. So I'm only going off the evidence that I had.

"I don't think we're seeing the value that he has to offer... I'm one of the many that would love to see Joseph in positions to make reads in defence - because the guy can hit as good as anyone - and then also getting the ball in hand in open space.

"So it's a matter of time. Still, I'm convinced it's going to work out. I'm just not sure how it's going to fit in."

Between Two Posts host and lead commentator Sean Maloney closed the segment with a passionate plea.

"You've got to put the Ferrari on the open road. You've got to put the foot down, you've got to get the good fuel in there and just let him go. At the moment he's going round the Bunnings carpark at Warringah Mall, over the speed bumps. Let him go."

The last Australian team to lift the trophy was the Waratahs under Michael Cheika in 2014.

Brumbies running rings around kick-obsessed Kiwis

We are only two rounds in but the NSW club sit second on the ladder, matching the Brumbies with two bonus-point wins.

There is a school of thought in New Zealand that the Aussie teams - the Brumbies and Waratahs at least - are playing a more attacking, ball-in-hand style than the Kiwis so far this year.

"The way they've played compared to the New Zealand teams, we've used blunt force trauma," All Blacks great Jeff Wilson said.

"We've tried to go through the middle of teams a lot, in New Zealand currently, whereas they're prepared, they know they have to go through the edges, and they're getting better at doing it."

The Brumbies have long been Australia's best Super Rugby side but they haven't won a title since 2004. Ex-All Blacks hooker James Parsons agreed that Stephen Larkham's influence had seen the Brumbies' attacking game evolve.

The Brumbies lead the competition for time in possession and ball in play time.

The Brumbies walloped the Crusaders 50-24 on Sunday to return to the top of the table.

They have kicked far less (46) than the Kiwi teams.

The Highlanders lead the competition in putting boot to ball with 74, ahead of the heavyweight Crusaders (68) and Chiefs (61).

"I thought it was exceptional in the sense that the Crusaders were up for it," Turinui noted.

"I was trying to rank it in the Brumbies' victories in the history of Super Rugby. They've won two titles. They went to South Africa and won a sudden death final.

"They put 50 on the Tahs in '02 in a semi in Sydney. It's a top five or six performance in the history of the Brumbies, and that's saying something."