NRL 2022: Eels star Will Penisini open to code switch as Rugby Australia target Joseph Suaalii
Rugby Australia is preparing a big-money raid on the NRL and one rising star has made a declaration that is certain to have Wallabies officials salivating.
Boom Parramatta rookie Will Penisini won’t “close the door” on a code switch after Rugby Australia revealed it is preparing to up the ante on an NRL talent raid.
Last month, RA chair Hamish McLennan declared Sydney Roosters prodigy Joseph Suaalii headlines a hit list of NRL stars on the radar of the Wallabies ahead of the 2027 Rugby Union World Cup.
Penisini and Suaalii were products of the prestige GPS rugby system having played together at The King’s School before choosing the glitz and glamour of the NRL.
Penisini has not only established himself in coach Brad Arthur’s outfit but emerged as the brightest prospect to come through Parramatta’s junior pathways in recent years. But a potential switch back to union, and the lure of the Wallabies, is a possibility for Penisini.
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Boom Parramatta rookie Will Penisini won’t “close the door” on a code switch after Rugby Australia revealed it is preparing to up the ante on an NRL talent raid.
Last month, RA chair Hamish McLennan declared Sydney Roosters prodigy Joseph Suaalii headlines a hit list of NRL stars on the radar of the Wallabies ahead of the 2027 Rugby Union World Cup.
Penisini and Suaalii were products of the prestige GPS rugby system having played together at The King’s School before choosing the glitz and glamour of the NRL.
Penisini has not only established himself in coach Brad Arthur’s outfit but emerged as the brightest prospect to come through Parramatta’s junior pathways in recent years. But a potential switch back to union, and the lure of the Wallabies, is a possibility for Penisini.
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Will Penisini is one of the Eels brightest young prospects. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Will Penisini is one of the Eels brightest young prospects. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
“I’m not closing the door on rugby union,” Penisini said.
“Right now, I am content with where I am at Parramatta and I’m loving rugby league at the moment. I am just at the start of my career and I want to build my game and focus on playing consistent footy for Parramatta and try not to look too far ahead about the decision between rugby league or rugby union.”
The Eels have been so impressed with Penisini, the club is working to secure his services beyond season 2023.
The 20-year-old is due for an upgraded deal and is off-contract from November 1, where he can field offers from rival clubs, and rugby union.
After losing crucial cogs in hooker Reed Mahoney to Canterbury and Isaiah Papali’i to the Wests Tigers, Parramatta are hoping to lock in halves pairing Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown, as well as Penisini, before rivals can swoop in on their most high-profile players.
But any extension talks with Penisini are unlikely to progress before the season’s end.
“There are some great people here and some great coaching staff,” Penisini said.
“To be honest, I’m not too sure where all the contract stuff is at the moment but I have left that up to my management to deal with. I just want to focus on the job we have right now and that’s playing good footy and the finals.”
While Penisini’s willingness to entertain a future switch to union might have RA officials salivating at the prospect, McLennan will have to work a lot harder to entice Suaalii to make the move back to the 15-man game.
With a private equity deal to fill the coffers of RA, McLennan is preparing to throw an open cheque book at Suaalii to join the Wallabies as well as using the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and 2027 World Cup as bait.
Suaalii reportedly has a get-out clause, which allows him to swap clubs or codes at the end of each season, in his current Roosters deal but the 19-year old was coy when asked about the nature of the deal.
“I don’t know about any of that stuff,” Suaalii said. “I love this club, I love the Roosters and everyone here. I don’t think I want to leave for a long time (for rugby union). I haven’t looked that far ahead, honestly.”
For Penisini, the chance to play in the Origin arena, rugby league’s pinnacle, could be enough to keep the rising centre in the NRL and at Parramatta.
Penisini played for the NSW under-16s and 18s sides before joining Blues coach Brad Fittler’s Future Blues squad late last year, a strong indication the Hills District junior is firmly in the frame for future Origin selection.
“It would be a dream to be able to play Origin,” he said.
“We had an under-21s camp last year and I met Freddy and we had a chat there about things … obviously NSW have a lot of talent in the outside backs at the moment, the likes of Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell, who are playing at centre.
“I am still young and finding my feet but it is a dream of mine to wear the Sky Blue jersey.” — with Jen Dawson and 3 others.
Replies
Always going to be chased by Rugby Union. Private school union star , he would slot straight back into that game quite easily I would think. Whilst he is a very good player - Dont think he has progressed as quick as I had hoped he would based on his last few games in his debut season. Lacks yard of pace and is currently being used as tackle 2-3 hit up man. He needs to be given some early ball in space so he use his ball skills and the subtle feet he has. Heavily marked all the same. Defence has fallen off as well, mostly in the reading of balls being thrown out the back and when numbers are around the ball. Technique wise he is an excellent defender just teh decision making process that is creating his poor defensive issues at present.
100% not worth getting in a bidding war over, i knew this was about to start with Will.
He's actually better suited to union, he has a real limited game in RL, his best move would be to go back to rugby where he will reach a higher level than he ever will in league.
I'd not be upset in the slightest if he left, i reckon he's fairly overrated
This whole idea of raiding NRL clubs is just bluster by RA. The only Oz based players who make real money are those with RA top up contracts. The average salary for a Super Rugby player is not much more than 150k, you only the big money by playing for the Wobbalies, and both Penisini & Suualii are a long way from that level.
Bottom line is the best thing the NRL can do is to continue to grow it's commercial revenue streams to make RU irrelevant.
I said before very over rated player . Might just be the place for him in that crap of a game .
How is he overrated? He only debuted last year and is having a solid year this year with very minimal errors. I don't get Parra fans sometimes. Here we have a genuine prospect that we've developed and he's called overrated and calls to let him walk etc. No one is suggesting we bust the bank for him but jeez ease up on the calls for him to go.
No one eats their own more than Eels fans .... well maybe Dragons fans do if The Roar is anything to go by.
Sorry Mutts . But to me very average watched alot of him last year as well and kept looking for this Boom prospect and just didn't see it then and this year as well . A lot of this is another case of the jurnos pumping his tyes like the tag o f the next Michael Jennings. So bud but just my opinion on him . Then again will probably prove me wrong who knows. But at the moment doing nothing for me . Once again sorry bud as i said just my opinion
Mate no need to apologise. We're all here to give our opinions. All good.
Exactly how can someone be over rated when there been professional for 5 minutes that's a joke in half.
Over rated is when you think what you are seeing now is the final product then yes you'd let him walk.
Penisini like any other 19 yr old his best footy is years away.He's a block of clay that needs to molded.
Totally agree Coryn they have been professional 5 minutes. Don't forget Rugby is the game they play in Heaven as well. 🤣
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