Why NRL star turned Wallabies defector Joseph Suaalii chose Australian rugby’s most controversial star as his sporting idol

Joseph Suaalii has revealed Israel Folau as an idol and inspiration as he pledges to tackle head-on the pressure and expectation of being Australian rugby’s most prized signing in more than a decade.

In a wide-ranging interview, a candid Suaalii on Tuesday opened up about the flak that flew his way after defecting from the NRL, the pride of wearing the Wallabies gold, while also declaring a desire to one day represent Australia at an Olympic Games.

But the 21-year-old’s immediate focus is on living up to his multi-million-dollar price tag and proving he deserved a call-up for national service on the Wallabies’ upcoming grand slam tour of the UK and Ireland before even playing a single game of Super Rugby.

‘I don’t see it as an expectation. I see it as kind of a privilege,’ Suaalii said at the unveiling of the Wallabies’ jumper for next year’s much-anticipated hosting of the British and Irish Lions.

The one-time NSW State of Origin representative left the Sydney Roosters to link up with 2024 Super Rugby wooden spooners the NSW Waratahs.

But Suaalii insists he has no regrets and never for a second contemplated trying to renege on his three-year-old RA deal, even when seemingly all of the NRL was trying to persuade him to stay in rugby league.

‘I feel like everyone has an opinion, which is respected,’ he said. ‘But, yeah, I’m on my own path. I feel I’m dreaming how I want to dream.

‘I didn’t have one doubt in my mind I was coming over. I knew what I was doing straight away.

Joseph Suaalii has revealed Israel Folau was his idol and inspiration as a youngster

A Wallabies debut on the British and Irish Lions tour awaits for the 21-year-old after his defection from the NRL

Israel Folau played 73 Tests for the Wallabies and was widely regarded as one of the code’s best players (pictured, in action against England)

‘I’ve always wanted to play union one day and it’s always been a dream of mine.

‘So no matter what anyone said, it was always stuck in my mind. Nothing was going to change.’

Equally at home at fullback, the wing or in the centres, and without a preference or favourite position, Suaalii is inevitably already drawing comparisons with Folau.

The budding cross-code star vividly recalls as a wide-eyed 10-year-old watching Folau make his Wallabies debut during the 2013 Lions series in Australia to become a dual international, before helping the Waratahs win the Super Rugby crown the following year and becoming a three-time John Eales Medallist.

Now the prodigious talent has the chance to follow in Folau’s footsteps.

‘I actually met Israel when I was 14,’ Suaalii said.

‘I really looked up to him when I was younger. For a young kid, I feel like I really wanted to ask a lot of questions.

‘I feel like it’s been one of my strengths, just learning, and Israel was someone I could look up to and ask questions, and every now and then I do catch up with him and he’s a great mentor.’

Joseph Suaalii impressed in the NRL with the Roosters – but admitted he wants to emulate Israel Folau in rugby (pictured, with former teammate James Tedesco)

The in-demand star also stated he would love to be an Olympian – so he may feature at the Los Angeles Games in 2028 for Australia

Folau is one of the most controversial figures in Australian sport after winning an $8million legal battle with Rugby Australia when he was axed from the Wallabies for posting on Instagram that hell awaited homosexuals and other ‘sinners’ including drunks and adulterers who did not repent.

Suaalii will be off contract after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, but admits the prospect of competing in rugby sevens at the LA Olympics could keep him in the code.

‘I did watch the final of the Sevens (in Paris this year),’ he said.

‘Yeah, look, I think it’s every young kid’s dream to go to the Olympics.

‘If you’re in school and everything stops with the 100-metre race or any Aussie that’s going well, my teacher in primary school would always stop.

‘I remember Jessica Fox coming to school after she won a gold medal and presented some sports awards, so even the memories kind of sparked something in myself to potentially one day be a dream of mine.’