Parramatta Eels and Tongan star centre Will Penisini has made the shock claim that he will attempt to convince Joseph Sua'ali'i to join him at the club.
Sua'ali'i is currently at the Sydney Roosters, with the gun winger desperate to play fullback in the coming years.
That may be a far-fetched dream at the tri-colours however, with James Tedesco the current Roosters, New South Wales and Australian captain, and signed until the end of 2024.
It's well-known that the Roosters want to make Tedesco a one-club player, while the star fullback has expressed his desire to remain a Rooster.
Tedesco has previously made comments that he could entertain a switch to the halves, but that also seems slightly far-fetched at the present time given his status as the game's premier fullback, which seems him earn north of $1 million per season - a figure that will only climb with the rising NRL salary cap, provided the collective bargaining agreement is successfully agreed to by the waring NRLand Rugby League Players Association.
With Tedesco unlikely to be going anywhere, and Penisini re-signing with the Parramatta Eels on Wednesday for a further two years - a deal that will keep him in blue and gold until the end of 2025 - he has told The Sydney Morning Herald that he would now like to see Sua'ali'i make the move from the Roosters.
“I don't think he's going anywhere soon, but I'd love him to come and play with me,” Penisini told the publication.
“It will be a tough conversation trying to get him into the blue and gold.
“We played together when we were younger. We've got a close bond, we're like brothers, and our families are close. I think he's happy where he is at the moment.
“The Roosters have a good problem with three fullbacks in their backline. It makes them more dangerous. You can see Joey Manu lurking around the ball, and ‘Teddy' ... I'm sure they'll come up with a plan to get them all more involved.
“He'd probably laugh at me if I tried to convince him to come out here now. But you never know.”
Sua'ali'i is currently on a deal at the Roosters which has player options included for every season, and he is currently no guarantee to remain in Trent Robinson's side at Bondi for 2024.
It's understood Rugby Australia will chase the star winger, who played for Samoa at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup and was included in the New South Wales Bluesextended State of Origin squad in 2022, heavily.
Other NRL clubs could also come to the party, and the star himself, while enjoying his time at the Roosters, hasn't ruled out a switch back to the 15-man game in the coming years.
The Eels themselves may have trouble convincing Sua'ali that a move to the west of Sydney is a good idea, with Clint Gutherson the long-term fullback and locked into the club until at least the end of 2025 on a deal believed to be worth around $800,000 per season.
Via Zerotackle website.
WELL guys, with Penisini now NO CHANCE to sign with the Roosters after our new deal for him, I reckon we have a massive crack at Suaali.
Watch this space, I reckon the Roosters lose him for sure. Won't be in tri colours after 2024. Perfect timing for us with Gutho too. The club has even telegraphed the move by having this come out.
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Gutherson plays centre in 2025 and 2024 (maybe), I wouldn't be surprised if the club has already spoke to him about it. Hard to justify the big contract Gutho wanted when Parra won't play him at fulllback for the entirety of his deal. I expect Suaali to take over from Gutho if we can pull it off.
"It's well-known that the Roosters want to make Tedesco a one-club player"
LOL. Did they just wipe his time at the Tigers from the history books?
Hahaha 😂 let's be honest tho, nobody cares about Wests haha
"It's well-known that the Roosters want to make Tedesco a one-club player, while the star fullback has expressed his desire to remain a Rooster".. who writes this garbage? Isn't Easts already his second club?
Roosters will move Keary on, teddy 5/8, Joey to stay centre, sualli fullback
Lol let's have no one play their preferred position and punt a premiership winning 5/8 just to accommodate Suaali, read what you write before you talk I'd recommend, because there is more chance of swines taking flight than that happening.
Let's keep in mind Manu, Suaali, Tedesco all want to play 1. Manu having won the golden boot just this year would be nuts to just let Teddy have the 1 every year for the rest of Teddy's career. Manu probably thinks he's better than Teddy at 1 and fair point he out played him at 1 this year at the Roosters and at international level.
Pigs do fly snake Gus still flys
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