Schmidt sidesteps Cleary rugby rumours – but confirms Suaalii plan for Lions
Rugby Australia would likely have to stump up an offer bigger than Suaalii's $1.6 million a year, and given the previous blowback within rugby for Suaalii's pay cheque at a time when the code is in major debt, and the historical difficulty of halves making the switch from league to union at the highest levels, informed sources said an RA raid on Cleary was not a likely prospect.
Cleary's interest in playing rugby would be more likely to happen if he elected to move to Europe to be closer to football star partner Mary Fowler, and wealthy French rugby clubs came knocking. Industry sources say Cleary would still be unlikely to earn in France what he's on in the NRL, but he could still theoretically play for the Wallabies via that route, through the Giteau Law.
Cleary's manager did not return the Herald 's calls on Friday, and a Rugby Australia spokesman said while willing to talk to anyone interested in playing rugby, the national body is content with the players already in its system.
Schmidt offered a similar take, after noting Cleary attended famous rugby school in Auckland, Sacred Heart College, when father Ivan was coaching the Warriors.
'He played soccer as a young man, he's played league, so he might want to spread his wings and play another sport,' Schmidt said. 'But at the same time, we've got a really good stock there that we're focused on in the very short term.'
Schmidt was more forthcoming about Suaalii's progress in recovering from a broken jaw, and his plan for the former Rooster heading into the British and Irish Test series in July.
Suaalii required surgery on a hairline fracture in his jaw in mid-May, suffered against the Reds. RA and the Waratahs said a firmer timeline for his return would be given after four weeks, leaving open the possibility of his Lions preparation being further delayed.
But Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said on Thursday that Suaalii was already back in full training – bar contact work – two weeks after his surgery.
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Schmidt gave a further update that included his plan for Suaalii to play for the Wallabies against Fiji on July 6. There had been speculation the star back may play for the Waratahs against the Lions on July 5 instead, to acclimatise to the patterns of the touring outfit.
'He's working hard and he's looking good going in the right direction to be ready for our Test against Fiji in Newcastle, which will be the ideal warm-up to come up here [to Brisbane] and compete,' Schmidt said.
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And the father of a young son was quick to double down after his win over Draper that he's not prepared to sacrifice everything to push his tennis life to new levels. "There's no way around hard work — don't get me wrong, I work hard — but on my terms. Will I put my life and health on the line to have a "might"? Maybe? No," he affirmed. "I will continue my path. I will work my way because I still practise, guys. I still do the exact minimum and maximum at the same time in order to be the player I am, to be in the position I am, and I will continue with this path because I think I prioritise tennis and life in equal ways." It sounds a refreshing approach but, frankly, he'll have to top even his recent miracles to down Jannik Sinner next as the Italian blitzed Andrey Rublev 6-1 6-3 6-4, making the world No.17 largely look like helpless fodder. He's not the first one to feel that way. The Italian has now marched to the last-eight without losing a set and for the loss of just 30 games. 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West Australian
3 hours ago
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Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force prop and Nathan Sharpe Medallist Tom Robertson re-signs until 2027
Freshly-minted Nathan Sharpe Medallist Tom Robertson has signed on to return to Western Force, with the important front-rower inking a new two-year deal. Less than a week after he claimed the club's highest individual men's honour, the Force have announced the popular prop has signed on until 2027, keeping him in Australia for the Rugby World Cup. The 30 year-old is the only prop n the club's history to win the medal, with his teammates voting him their player of the year after a superb season in blue. Playing slightly out of position at tighthead as opposed to his natural loosehead, Robertson started every game and held down the fort as injuries affected the Force's front-row stocks. Around the ground, Robertson's contibution was sizable as he finished fourth in Super Rugby for tackles (197) this season, one less than teammate Carlo Tizzano. He also had 71 carries for more than 300 metres, including his now-famous runaway try against the Reds in Brisbane. Making it even more impressive, it was Robertson's first season back following a torn ACL and study sabbatical at Oxford University in 2024. With 31 Wallabies games to his name, Robertson will be firmly in contention for a spot in their squad for July and August's tour from the British and Irish Lions. Robertson said he and his wife Belle and five-month-old son Darby were delighted to stay in Perth a few more years. 'It's a special time for the Western Force, even after a disappointing end to the season, there were certainly some green shoots at the start,' he said. 'In terms of the playing and coaching group, I certainly think this is the most cohesive squad we've had since I joined the Force at the end of 2020. 'On and off the field, there's a feeling we love to be around each other and hopefully that'll pay off in the next couple of years as we build towards a finals berth. 'On a personal level, having a young family and wanting that stability for the next couple of years was important to me as well. We call Perth home now so we're thrilled to stay.' Force head coach Simon Cron was delighted to see Robertson re-sign with the Force. ''Throbba' is a big part of the current environment and always has a team-first mentality,' Cron said. 'His ability to play both sides of the scrum is a huge asset to the team. We are really happy to have him re-commit for two more years as he is a leader in our team.'
