Joseph Suaalii, a key piece acquired by the New South Wales Waratahs, is back on the park. He looked back to his dynamic best, having fully recovered from a toe injury that had sidelined him since the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific. The four-test Wallaby's return comes as the Waratahs prepare to face the Wellington Hurricanes on Friday, adding an intriguing dynamic to coach Dan McKellar's selection process. Assistant coach Mike Catt on Tuesday confirmed Suaalii’s inclusion. That news comes as good and bad fortune, particularly in light of how well the outside backs held down the fort without him.
Suaalii will have missed at least four weeks of action with that injury. It was a challenging time, he used that time to really clear his mind and focus on recovery. His recovery is a genuine surprise, burst of luminous energy. News accounts describe him as having “all the afterburners on.” His return has just added a complex selection conundrum for McKellar. While Suaalii was recovering, his outside backs, spearheaded by 2025 Rugby Australia rookie Max Jorgensen, absolutely raised their level of play.
The New South Wales Waratahs currently lie fourth on the table in Super Rugby Pacific. They feel very good going into round seven, confident and with renewed determination. Their recent form, highlighted by a thrilling win against the ACT Brumbies last weekend, is their fourth-winning season and has the Reds thinking finals footy. The resultant competition within the team is viewed as a very positive development by the coaching staff.
"Joe's trained well. It was a tough session today," said Mike Catt, affirming Suaalii's readiness for the upcoming match.
With the shitwar background her addition is without doubt a massive fillip for the Waratahs as they seek to build on their opening round victory. Added to that competition is his own return. The team embraces this challenge as it pushes each other to be at their best.
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