Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii busted in secret meeting with Rugby Australia boss despite promise to Roosters

Roosters star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been caught out in a secret meeting with Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan in a move that will have many fans questioning whether he is 100 per cent focused on the NRL club.

Suaalii stunned the rugby league world when he defected to the rival code in March on a $1.6million-a-season deal that will make him one of the highest-paid footballers in Australia when it takes effect at the end of the 2024 NRL season.

The 19-year-old was seen talking with McLennan at an upmarket cafe in Sydney’s swanky eastern suburbs on Wednesday morning, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The rugby supremo confirmed the meeting when the publication approached him for comment.

Suaalii (pictured playing Parramatta in round five) said the Roosters were his ‘sole focus’ after news broke that he’d signed a megabucks contract with rugby union

However, the secret meeting he had with Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan (pictured) indicates he’s got more on his mind than helping his current team win the comp

‘Jeez, you’ve got spies everywhere.  We were just catching up,’ he said.

Suaalii’s get-together with his future boss is sure to raise questions about his commitment to the Roosters, especially given comments he made at the time his defection became public.

‘The Sydney Roosters have been great to me and my family since I got here and the club is always going to be a big part of me,’ he said in a statement.

‘There’s still a long way to go in my journey with the Roosters and my sole focus is on working hard every day to keep improving and performing my role for the team.’

That stance was echoed by Chooks coach Trent Robinson at the time.

‘Joseph has been transparent with the club and we respect his decision,’ he said.

‘He has made his commitment to the Roosters club for the next year and a half crystal clear, and we’re excited about the path we’re on.’

Bulldogs boss and Channel Nine pundit Phil Gould maintained Suaalii should have left the NRL as soon as he signed with rugby union.

The 19-year-old’s defection stunned the footy world and saw Bulldogs boss Phil Gould call on him to leave the NRL immediately so he wouldn’t be a distraction

News of the secret meeting comes during a difficult week for Roosters coach Trent Robinson (pictured), who was convinced Suaalii was fully committed to the club until the end of 2024 when news of his move to rugby became official 

‘Every time he scores a try. Every time he does something in our game people are going to refer to the fact that he’s going to rugby,’ he said.

“Why do we need that? Go now. Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on the way out. Go. Go now. Gone. He’s made his decision. You sign a contract for rugby 18 months before his league contract ends.’

The secret rendezvous comes during what’s already been difficult week for the Roosters.

Robinson shocked many fans and experts when he dropped halfback Sam Walker to reserve grade after last week’s loss to Cronulla dropped his highly fancied side to ninth on the ladder with just three wins from the opening seven rounds of the season.

In better news for the Tricolours, representative back rower Angus Crichton is returning for Tuesday’s ANZAC Day clash with St George after missing the opening weeks of their campaign following his bipolar diagnosis.