Joseph Suaalii, a promising rugby league convert, will miss the New South Wales Waratahs' upcoming home match against the Fijian Drua due to a toe injury. The 21-year-old athlete, who recently made a victorious Super Rugby Pacific debut, has been sidelined following a close 37-36 win over the Otago Highlanders in round one. Suaalii, who also made his test debut in last year's Wallabies' tour of Europe, has been nursing a toe problem that forced him to miss training sessions last week.
Suaalii's absence comes as a precautionary measure, according to Waratahs coach Dan McKellar. In addressing the young player's health status, McKellar emphasized the importance of managing injuries carefully.
"Sometimes you've got to put the Ferraris in the garage," he stated.
The coach further elaborated on Suaalii's condition, noting that optimism surrounding his recovery was high after his performance in round one.
"He pulled up sore (after round one) but recovered quite well and we thought he would be right for this week, but unfortunately he is not," McKellar explained.
The match against Fijian Drua is scheduled for Friday. The Drua team remains winless from their first two games this season, while the Waratahs had the advantage of a bye in the second round. Despite Suaalii's absence, McKellar remains confident in his team's capabilities, choosing to focus on the overall team strategy rather than individual players.
Suaalii's transition from rugby league to rugby union has drawn significant attention, with his debut performance setting high expectations for his future contributions to the Waratahs and Australian rugby. His ability to adapt and excel in a new format of the sport at such a young age has marked him as a player to watch closely.
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