In a bold move that's stirring up the rugby realm, Wallabies icon Stirling Mortlock has a controversial suggestion for Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii: shift the young star to the wing. The ex-centre powerhouse, who himself was thrust into a similar positional shuffle early in his career, believes this could unlock Suaalii's potential in international rugby.
Mortlock's recommendation comes as Suaalii, a mere 22-year-old with eight Test caps, finds his footing in union after transitioning from league. Despite his rookie status, Mortlock, who closely monitored Suaalii’s progress since his high school days at The King’s School, insists this change could be pivotal. Reflecting on his own career, Mortlock shared,
“He’s not going to like this but when I first came through, I ended up having two full seasons on the wing. I didn’t like it at all. I hated it.”
Mortlock further justified his stance by highlighting the strategic defensive and offensive insights gained from playing as a winger, which he argues are invaluable for mastering the outside centre position. “Then, probably more importantly, 13 is your spiritual leader in defence, so there is a lot of communication that is required and linking that you do in multi-phase and off set-piece,” he explained.
Despite recent criticism following the Wallabies' performance against the British and Irish Lions, Mortlock remains steadfast in his belief that Suaalii shouldn't be pigeonholed just yet. He emphasized Suaalii's exceptional aerial skills and suitability for the wing, suggesting that such a stint could enhance his capabilities as a world-class outside centre in the long run.
While advocating for this switch, Mortlock also urged Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt to maintain consistency in selection, emphasizing the importance of building team chemistry and resilience through continued collaboration on the field. “Teams need at least five to 10 Tests together, minimum, to start to gel. Nothing beats time in the saddle and playing games together,” Mortlock asserted, challenging the current trend of frequent player rotations.
As the Wallabies prepare for their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign, the proposed positional tweak for Suaalii by a former legend like Mortlock adds an intriguing layer to the unfolding narrative of Australia's rugby strategy.