Waratahs coach Dan McKellar is open to a position switch for multimillion-dollar back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii after the former NRL star was retained at outside centre for NSW’s clash against the Highlanders on Saturday.
Suaalii has been starved of possession this season, carrying the ball 35 metres in three Super Rugby appearances. McKellar revealed Suaalii played in Friday’s defeat against the Force with a side strain, finishing the game with three carries.
“We just had no ball [against the Force] and that’s the reality, we had a plan to get Su [Suaalii] into the game a whole lot more than what he was,” McKellar said.
“He copped a bump pretty early on, which certainly restricted him as well. Thankfully, he’s overcome that. He’s been selected at 13 this week and I’ve said many times before, there’s an open mind around where he plays now and where he plays in the future.
“He’s very focused on what he needs to do. Obviously, last year we played him at 15. He played five or six games last year and performed pretty well. He’s been in the 13 jersey for the Wallabies. Up until this point, we thought we’d keep that consistency around position and try to unlock what is a pretty unique talent.”
Although limited in attack, Suaalii has improved his defensive this season, boasting a 95 per cent tackle success rate.
After being asked whether Suaalii’s physicality and direct ball running could potentially be an asset at inside centre, McKellar remained non-committal ahead of a must-win game against the Highlanders to keep the Waratahs’ finals hopes alive.
“Regardless of what number he’s got on his back, he can be used effectively. Unfortunately, last Friday night the game [against the Force] didn’t allow that,” McKellar said.
“We’ve got the roof on on Saturday afternoon [in Dunedin]. We know we’re going to get good conditions, playing against a team that likes to play a fast, attacking style of rugby and certainly didn’t show that on Friday night.”
Suaalii is on a reported $1.8 million salary this year and has missed seven games this season with a hamstring injury. McKellar said the scrutiny on his player can be unfair, but that Suaalii was largely oblivious to it.
“I talk to him about it [the scrutiny] and he’s very measured, I don’t think he spends a whole lot of time reading articles,” McKellar said.
Max Jorgensen is retained at fullback for his third successive game, after playing his first eight games of the season on the wing.
The Waratahs are also nursing a long injury list, including inside centre Joey Walton (neck), breakaway Jamie Adamson (cheekbone injury), prop Tom Lambert (knee) and captain Matt Philip (calf).
McKellar confirmed Philip could have played against the Highlanders, but it was decided to rest the second-rower with Jake Gordon skippering the team in Dunedin.
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