Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will return for the Waratahs at outside centre in their final game of the season against the Force, ahead of the Wallabies’ first Test of the season in July.
Suaalii has played four games for the Waratahs this year after battling a hamstring injury. Last season, Suaalii was limited to seven games for NSW after suffering a fractured jaw. In contrast, the multimillion-dollar NRL recruit has played 18 Tests for the Wallabies in two seasons.
The Waratahs’ final game of the Super Rugby season on Saturday will be a dead rubber after losing to the Brumbies last Friday.
NSW will also farewell several players after the game, including prop Tom Lambert who is moving to the Reds and hooker Ioane Moananu who will return to New Zealand. Triston Reilly drops to the bench in place of Suaalii, but is set to stay at the Waratahs next season after impressing at centre.
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar confirmed the decision to play Suaalii was his own, not a directive from Rugby Australia, despite the looming Wallabies’ July Test series against Ireland, Italy and France.
“He’s (Suaalii) a rugby player and when he’s fit to play rugby, he plays. It’s good to have him back, he’s fit and available and we get him out there for the last game of the season,” McKellar said.
“There’s trust between both groups (Waratahs and RA) and they trust us. We’ve got high-quality people here. There’s been no direction from them to not play him or to play him. It’s just all based on the information that we have within the building here.”
Sid Harvey drops out of the match-day squad and is replaced by Andrew Kellaway, who starts on the left wing. Harvey has had an impressive debut Super Rugby season, scoring six tries in 11 games, alongside being the Waratahs’ main goal kicker.
The 20-year-old has also made several costly handling errors, but McKellar said this wasn’t factored into leaving him out against the Force.
“It’s just management of Sid, he’s been very good, I don’t think he’s started a game of Shute Shield yet,” McKellar said.
“To experience what he’s experienced this year across the Super Rugby season, he’s had a fair workload over the last few weeks. I’m really pleased with what Sid’s produced in 2026. He’s got a big role to play here over the next 10 years, hopefully. It’s just around managing his development.”
McKellar also said he would not want Super Rugby moving to a conference season next year after the departure of Moana Pasifika; instead, he would want to extend the season, with a home and away fixture against each team.
“It’s simple and an easy competition for players, coaches, supporters, fans, stakeholders to follow,” McKellar said.
“If you’re in the best top six, top five, top four, whatever it is, then you’re challenged for the end of the season, keep it nice and simple.”
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