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0 The battle between “leather patch” union and “working class” league fans for rugby code supremacy is only a good thing, reckons Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.
The code war kicked off again when Rugby Australia poached teenage league star Joseph Suaalii for $1.6 million.
The deal will see the Roosters star depart league for union on a three-year deal from 2025 and could see him contest the 2027 Rugby World Cup at home.
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The potential to play in the British & Irish Lions tour before that is an added drawcard.
“It’s big news,” Jones told David Pembroke on the Eddie podcast.
“Whenever a player jumps code from one to the other, it’s really big news. In Australia, we do have this fight between rugby and rugby league.
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“Remember, in the old days when the rugby union player joined rugby league they weren’t even allowed to come into games to watch. There’s still a bit of that going on, you know, the old rugby league versus rugby union leather patches versus the working class of rugby league. There’s still a bit of that and I think that’s fantastic.
“It’s good and we should have that because it is a bit of a competition, but we’re competing on essentially different platforms, and that’s the intriguing part of it.
“The NRL presents this fantastic week-to-week competition. You’ve seen the crowds, they’re really doing well, the game itself is a fantastic game to watch,” he added.
“Rugby union is completely different, a much more tactical game, a much more worldwide game, the ability to play in a World Cup every four years where it’s a third biggest sporting event in the world.
“So the options for those top players is unbelievable and you just hope that they make the best decision for their careers.”
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The deal has been lauded and criticised on both sides of the fence with Suaalii’s name dominating headlines across the board.
While Rugby Australia will be left $1.6 million lighter in each year of Suaalii’s contract, it’s all good news for Jones.
He commended Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan for putting his money where his mouth is.
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“You’ve got to admire the boldness of Hamish McLennan as the chairman of Rugby Australia,” said Jones.
“I think he’s really trying to get rugby back on the front foot with the other winter sports so that’s to be admired 100 per cent.”
Suaalii will look to join the likes of Lote Tuqiri, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Brad Thorn, and Sonny Bill Williams in making a successful switch.
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