Red alert for Suaalii: Why Wallabies must work to prevent another Reece Walsh moment
And we've been there before, of course.
Suaalii's debut in State of Origin last year was one to forget for the youngster, when he mistimed an aggressive shot on Reece Walsh and with that right arm also tucked in low, hit him late and in the head. The Maroons star was knocked out and Suaalii was sent off just eight minutes into the game.
The obvious worry for Schmidt is something similar happening early in one of the Wallabies Tests against the British and Irish Lions in July.
The Lolesio shot wasn't a one-off, either. Suaalii's risky tendency to stay upright and hit chest-on-chest was seen several times on the November tour, and he was lucky to escape scrutiny for a no-wrap tackle that collected Wales flanker Jac Morgan in the head.
Suaalii has been doing plenty of work with Waratahs defence coach Locky McCaffrey in lowering his body height, and no-one will want to dial down aggression.
But Lions Tests are won and lost by the finest of margins, and the impact of losing a player for a tackle-gone-wrong was seen when another star code switcher was sent off in a recent Lions series.
Sonny Bill Williams was red carded in the second Test of the All Blacks-Lions series in 2017, for collecting Anthony Watson in the head with an upright, shoulder-to-head tackle. After winning the first Test comfortably, the All Blacks went on to lose the second and then draw the third.
It is worth remembering Suaalii is only nine games into his professional rugby career, and it takes time to change heat-of-battle instincts. Barring the odd crackdown, the NRL's tolerance level for high contract is far different.
But you can also be sure Schmidt and defensive coaches will put plenty more work into lowering Suaalii's target zone, and use of arms, before the start of the Lions series.
It will be a must, because Suaalii will be asked to do more tackling for Australia. Wright and Suaalii's battle of the no.15s was a cracker but based on the season to date the Brumby and incumbent Wallaby won't be unseated by his NSW rival.
Wright - who ran 180 metres and beat nine defenders at GIO Stadium - and Suaalii both average about 115 metres per game. But Wright is a superb linkman and alternate playmaker, and is peerless in attacking through defenders in the middle of the field.
Loading
With ample wing depth, and no inside centres making irresistible cases, Len Ikitau is stay at no.12 for the Wallabies, with Suaalii at no.13, where he can run lines and ride contact.
But the Lions will also be poring over tape and setting plans about how to catch him defensively.
And you can be sure a trap for Suaalii to race in with a heart-in-mouth shot will be part of the plan.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
More to Lions loss than referee call, say Wallabies
Wallabies lock Nick Frost won't waste time pondering countless "what if?" scenarios, saying the last-gasp loss to the British and Irish Lions shouldn't have come down to a controversial refereeing decision. The Wallabies were in a position to level the series after taking an 18-point lead in the second Test at the MCG on Saturday. But the home side were unable to seal the deal, allowing the Lions back into the game before fullback Hugo Keenan scored the match-winning try with 45 seconds left on the clock. Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano appeared to have been cleaned out illegally with a shoulder to the neck in the build-up, but Keenan's try stood after a review. It meant Australia suffered a 29-26 loss, with the Lions taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the final Test in Sydney on Saturday night. Whether the last-minute try should or should not have been awarded, Frost said there was a bigger picture surrounding their defeat. "There were so many moments up until that where we could have capitalised," Frost said on Monday. "We had a pretty decent lead in that first half, and we gave away a few tries. "It doesn't always come down to the refs ... At the end of the day, you can't really rely right at the end for a decision there. "If you're relying on that, you probably haven't done enough work throughout the game." Tizzano has been accused by UK media and ex-players of staging, to try to win the penalty, but Frost defended his tough teammate and said the Wallabies didn't listen to the "outside noise". The Wallabies will have pride, and unwanted history, to play for at Accor Stadium. If they lose on Saturday, the tourists will have claimed their first three-Test series whitewash on Australian soil since 1904. While starting prop James Slipper has become just the second Wallabies player to appear in two Lions series, Frost said the third Test presented another rare opportunity for all, with the tours held only every 12 years. "There is something to lose. It's a Test match," Frost said. "There's a bit of fire in the belly from the last couple of games ... And again, like it's a Lions series, it's our last time - unless you're James Slipper - to play against them." Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be forced into changes after Harry Potter suffered a hamstring injury in front of his home crowd at the MCG. Dylan Pietsch or Andrew Kellaway loom as options to fill that spot, joining Max Jorgensen in the starting wing positions. "I've been there before and really feel for him," Jorgensen said of Potter. "It's really tough to see him head out of camp and stay down in Melbourne. Jorgensen agreed there was plenty of motivation for the Wallabies to fire up for the third Test. "All the boys are pretty gutted after that result. We put in such a big effort - we were leading for 79 minutes of the game," the 20-year-old said. "It's a tough pill to swallow. Everyone knows that, but obviously there's a big focus on this weekend now and winning this game this Saturday."

News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘The doctor said I'd won the lottery': Appendicitis may have cost Jack Howarth an Origin debut, but the health scare was a blessing in disguise
Storm centre Jack Howarth probably would have made his State of Origin debut this year had it not been for two separate setbacks, but he says everything happens for a reason after doctors told him he'd 'won the lottery'. Howarth was in the mix for the series opener but was ruled out of contention due to a dislocated shoulder that opened the door for Roosters rookie Robert Toia to make his Maroons debut after just 10 NRL appearances. The powerful Storm centre returned and was part of Queensland's extended squad for game two, with Howarth expected to eventually get his shot given he represented his state in the under 18s and under 19s. The door was open for him to get his crack when Kalyn Ponga went down with a foot injury, but it wasn't meant to be for Howarth, who was struck down with appendicitis just days before the game three squad was announced. Broncos bolter Gehamat Shibasaki was picked at left centre and did a fine job for Billy Slater as the Maroons clinched the series in Sydney, but it could have easily been Howarth celebrating in the sheds with his teammates. 'It's hard to tell. There were a few conversations but there was no definite call (from Slater),' Howarth told the NewsWire. 'I was just happy that I was in the picture to be selected. Everything happens for a reason and maybe it wasn't my time to play. I'm just glad they went out and won, and Shibasaki has been playing great footy and he has an unreal story, so he deserved it. 'As much as it sucked at the time, it worked out that I was able to get my issues fixed, so it wasn't a big loss.' Those issues could have become very serious, with Howarth revealing how quickly things turned for the worse after initially feeling unwell on Monday, June 23, before he had his appendix removed the next day and was out of hospital on the Wednesday. 'Mine was instant,' he replied when asked about the pain, with the Maroons side for the decider named a week later. 'I was lying in bed and I thought I had eaten something off and it was just stomach pain. But it started to get a lot sharper, so I drove myself to emergency that night. 'It was too much of a big line, so I thought 'stuff it' and I just went home. 'I went and told the club doctor my symptoms and she decided to get me checked. They did a little ultrasound, saw it and told me I had appendicitis and needed surgery that day. 'It was such a fast process but I just had to wait for the wounds to heal.' While appendicitis is nothing new for footy players, Howarth says there were other concerns that showed up after the initial ultrasound. He only missed two club games, but it could have been a lot worse if he hadn't been checked out. Jack Howarth is out this week after requiring surgery to have his appendix removed. Storm expect him to miss at least a few weeks (+ Origin 3). Return time can vary, but most are in the 3-5 week range. Quickest - Adam Reynolds returned just 2 weeks post appendix removal in 2017. — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 25, 2025 'I missed a bit of footy, which sucked, but they also found a bit of internal damage while I was there, so it was a blessing in disguise that I had my appendix checked,' he said. 'I don't know exactly what the other stuff was, but the doctor said I'd won the lottery and that down the track it could have been a lot worse if they hadn't spotted it. 'Everything happens for a reason and I'm just lucky that they found that problem.'

Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rugby Australia to seek answers from World Rugby over MCG call
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has backed Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt over his post-match spray about the controversial decision to not penalise the Lions for foul play before their match-winning try at the MCG, and said RA would be seeking 'a high level of accountability' from World Rugby about the referee's calls this week. Waugh's firm stance came after Schmidt slammed Italian referee Andrea Piardi for not awarding a match-defining penalty in the 79th minute of the Lions' 29-26 win in Melbourne. Lions fullback Hugo Keenan scored in the last minute secure a series-clinching victory, but Schmidt came out swinging over an incident at the previous ruck, where Welsh flanker Jac Morgan cleaned out Carlo Tizzano with a hit on the back of the neck. The Wallabies argued Morgan should have been penalised for breaching Law 9.20, which prohibits contact above the shoulders at a ruck. With the Wallabies leading by two points, a penalty would have likely seen the series go to a decider on Saturday at Accor Stadium. Piardi reviewed the incident but ruled there it was not foul play because both players had arrived at the same time and Morgan had not used a shoulder. Schmidt said Piardi appeared unwilling to make a big call in the last minute, and the decision 'doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about. 'That decision, you only have to look at law 9.20. It's what they're there to enforce. A player who dives off his feet is clearly beaten to the position over the ball, makes neck contact, it was a tough one to take.' World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin and chairman Brett Robinson were guests at the MCG, ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup events with Waugh and RA this week in Sydney.