Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii promises 'great impact' in 'golden' rugby era for Australia
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Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii believes he can have "a great impact" in a "golden period" for rugby in Australia.
The former NRL star joined Nine's Wide World of Sports on Sunday ahead of Tuesday's Wallabies selection unveiling.
Suaalii is expected to tour the northern hemisphere in November despite not having played a senior game of rugby but his introduction is likely to come via the 'Australia XV.'
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It has been a whirlwind few weeks for the 21-year-old after the Roosters were knocked out of the NRL finals by the Storm on September 27.
Suaalii had a "last hurrah" with his league teammates and a short Hamilton Island holiday before knuckling down to work on his monster contract.
Suaalii spent Monday and Tuesday training in Canberra under Joe Schmidt while reconnecting with some former teammates.
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Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii during Wallabies training at the AIS, Getty
"It's been full on, I've been loving it," he told WWOS.
"A lot of school mates that I played with in the GPS like Angus Bell, Billy Pollard. So they've just been showing me around.
"I went to the Waratahs facility for the first time yesterday. Angus Bell has been honestly just showing me around everywhere.
Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters is tackled by the Eels defence. Getty
"So it's been good. It's like going to a new school kind of thing. I've been enjoying it."
Suaalii admitted the external noise had been "a little bit different" after deciding to switch codes in March last year.
He said he always knew he wanted to return to rugby at some stage but had not watched much while under contract with the Roosters.
Coach Joe Schmidt of Australia talks to his players at Sky Stadium. Getty
Suaalii's conversations with Schmidt have been more about family than footy so far but he felt ready if he was picked in the national squad.
"If I do get the opportunity, I feel like I've always put my best foot forward coming into selection and stuff like that," he said.
"So yeah, if I do get the call, I'd be very excited and very privileged just to be a part of the Wallabies squad, which since school has always been a dream of mine."
Suaalii, a former Australia under-18 rugby star, described the transition as "surreal."
"But it's been good to look back and just see the journey of how I've come through school and to play in league and now having my opportunity to play union for the Waratahs and the Wallabies."
Suaalii admitted he would "miss the Roosters dearly" but he had always followed his dreams in life.
"To play in a Grand Slam tour, a Lions tour and a home World Cup in 2027, I feel like that's just always been so appealing to myself," he said.
"I just see myself playing in that and having a great impact with Australian rugby and the Waratahs and yeah, it's very exciting.
"The next couple of years for rugby in Australia, I feel like it's a obviously a golden period of playing a home World Cup, the Lions tour and a Grand Slam. I feel like that just speaks for itself."
