
Suaalii knocked out in Waratahs' Super derby with Reds
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been stretchered off in the Waratahs' clash with the Queensland Reds. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP
Code-hopping superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been escorted from the field on a medicab after being knocked out in the first half of the NSW Waratahs' Super Rugby Pacific derby with the Queensland Reds in Sydney.
Suaalii was wiped out after copping an accidental knee to the jaw from teammate Andrew Kellaway as the pair collided in a tackle.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was watching on at Allianz Stadium as the fullback was treated for several minutes before being taken from the field.
Rubbing insult to injury, the friendly fire mishap happened with Queensland on a penalty advantage.
The Reds scored 30 seconds later through hooker Richie Asiata to level the match up at 14-14 moments before the halftime break.

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Australian forwards have been rewarded for their consistent form with six named in a Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year, including props Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa. Super Rugby Pacific player of the year, Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea, who had an unbeatable lead in voting with two rounds of the competition remaining, headlines the side. While the Team of the Year will become an official post-season recognition in Super Rugby Pacific alongside Player of the Year from next season, an honorary team has been named for 2025. There are eight Australians in total - two backs in cross-code star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who was named as fullback in his first season, and Western Force winger Harry Potter. The line-up was formed from the top-ranked players in each position based on Player of the Year votes from across the season. If players were used across multiple positions, for team of the year purposes they were assigned only the position they most played during the season. "Selection in this team is a reflection of the respect and admiration these players have earned from their opponents, week in and week out, throughout the 2025 season," Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said. Australian openside flankers Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight and Langi Gleeson could not initially be separated for the third back row position, having received the same amount of votes (29). With voting coming down to who received the most "three votes" for best in a game, Tizzano and McReight couldn't be split, with both receiving five. They also received the same minor votes and shared the award. 2025 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC TEAM OF THE YEARPROPS - Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies, 20 votes), Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs, 14 votes) HOOKER - Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua, 19 votes) SECOND ROW - Jeremy Williams (Western Force, 21 votes), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues, 20 votes) BACK ROW - Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika, 46 votes), Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies, 31 votes), Carlo Tizzano (Western Force, 29 votes) / Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds, 29 votes) HALFBACK - Cam Roigard (Hurricanes, 28 votes) FLY HALF - Damian McKenzie (Chiefs, 36 votes)CENTRES - Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders, 32 votes), AJ Lam (Blues, 14 votes) WINGERS - Harry Potter (Western Force, 18 votes), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes, 18 votes) FULLBACK - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NSW Waratahs, 20 votes) Australian forwards have been rewarded for their consistent form with six named in a Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year, including props Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa. Super Rugby Pacific player of the year, Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea, who had an unbeatable lead in voting with two rounds of the competition remaining, headlines the side. While the Team of the Year will become an official post-season recognition in Super Rugby Pacific alongside Player of the Year from next season, an honorary team has been named for 2025. There are eight Australians in total - two backs in cross-code star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who was named as fullback in his first season, and Western Force winger Harry Potter. The line-up was formed from the top-ranked players in each position based on Player of the Year votes from across the season. If players were used across multiple positions, for team of the year purposes they were assigned only the position they most played during the season. "Selection in this team is a reflection of the respect and admiration these players have earned from their opponents, week in and week out, throughout the 2025 season," Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said. Australian openside flankers Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight and Langi Gleeson could not initially be separated for the third back row position, having received the same amount of votes (29). With voting coming down to who received the most "three votes" for best in a game, Tizzano and McReight couldn't be split, with both receiving five. They also received the same minor votes and shared the award. 2025 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC TEAM OF THE YEARPROPS - Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies, 20 votes), Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs, 14 votes) HOOKER - Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua, 19 votes) SECOND ROW - Jeremy Williams (Western Force, 21 votes), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues, 20 votes) BACK ROW - Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika, 46 votes), Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies, 31 votes), Carlo Tizzano (Western Force, 29 votes) / Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds, 29 votes) HALFBACK - Cam Roigard (Hurricanes, 28 votes) FLY HALF - Damian McKenzie (Chiefs, 36 votes)CENTRES - Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders, 32 votes), AJ Lam (Blues, 14 votes) WINGERS - Harry Potter (Western Force, 18 votes), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes, 18 votes) FULLBACK - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NSW Waratahs, 20 votes) Australian forwards have been rewarded for their consistent form with six named in a Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year, including props Angus Bell and Allan Alaalatoa. Super Rugby Pacific player of the year, Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea, who had an unbeatable lead in voting with two rounds of the competition remaining, headlines the side. While the Team of the Year will become an official post-season recognition in Super Rugby Pacific alongside Player of the Year from next season, an honorary team has been named for 2025. There are eight Australians in total - two backs in cross-code star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who was named as fullback in his first season, and Western Force winger Harry Potter. The line-up was formed from the top-ranked players in each position based on Player of the Year votes from across the season. If players were used across multiple positions, for team of the year purposes they were assigned only the position they most played during the season. "Selection in this team is a reflection of the respect and admiration these players have earned from their opponents, week in and week out, throughout the 2025 season," Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said. Australian openside flankers Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight and Langi Gleeson could not initially be separated for the third back row position, having received the same amount of votes (29). With voting coming down to who received the most "three votes" for best in a game, Tizzano and McReight couldn't be split, with both receiving five. They also received the same minor votes and shared the award. 2025 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC TEAM OF THE YEARPROPS - Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies, 20 votes), Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs, 14 votes) HOOKER - Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua, 19 votes) SECOND ROW - Jeremy Williams (Western Force, 21 votes), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues, 20 votes) BACK ROW - Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika, 46 votes), Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies, 31 votes), Carlo Tizzano (Western Force, 29 votes) / Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds, 29 votes) HALFBACK - Cam Roigard (Hurricanes, 28 votes) FLY HALF - Damian McKenzie (Chiefs, 36 votes)CENTRES - Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders, 32 votes), AJ Lam (Blues, 14 votes) WINGERS - Harry Potter (Western Force, 18 votes), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes, 18 votes) FULLBACK - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (NSW Waratahs, 20 votes)