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 NSWโs 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 Fridayโs defeat against the Force with a side strain, finishing the game with three carries.
โWe just had no ball [against the Force] and thatโs the reality, we had a plan to get Su [Suaalii] into the game a whole lot more than what he was,โ McKellar said.
โHe copped a bump pretty early on, which certainly restricted him as well. Thankfully, heโs overcome that. Heโs been selected at 13 this week and Iโve said many times before, thereโs an open mind around where he plays now and where he plays in the future.
โHeโs 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. Heโs been in the 13 jersey for the Wallabies. Up until this point, we thought weโd keep that consistency around position and try to unlock what is a pretty unique talent.โ
Although limited in attack, Suaalii has improved his defensive this season, boasting a 95 per cent tackle success rate.
After being asked whether Suaaliiโs 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 Waratahsโ finals hopes alive.
โRegardless of what number heโs got on his back, he can be used effectively. Unfortunately, last Friday night the game [against the Force] didnโt allow that,โ McKellar said.
โWeโve got the roof on on Saturday afternoon [in Dunedin]. We know weโre going to get good conditions, playing against a team that likes to play a fast, attacking style of rugby and certainly didnโt show that on Friday night.โ
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.
โI talk to him about it [the scrutiny] and heโs very measured, I donโt think he spends a whole lot of time reading articles,โ 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.
Watch every match of Super Rugby Pacific live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
