Eddie Jones sets sights on NRL stars for Wallabies revolution

Eddie Jones is returning to the helm of the Australian Wallabies for five years on a $4.5 million deal which will see him through the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and 2027 World Cup in Australia.

As part of his vision to see the Wallabies return to rugby union greatness, Jones has identified four rugby league players he hopes will boost the nation’s chance of World Cup success.

Jones has been incredibly vocal since his appointment as Wallabies head coach, declaring: “If we can have everyone fit and healthy, I am confident we can go to France and break the 24-year drought of winning the World Cup.”

While it may be too soon for Jones to recruit for 2023, here are the four biggest names on his rugby league ‘hit list’ moving towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Joseph Suaali’i

Joseph Suaali’i is arguably the most extraordinary talent the NRL has seen in years. Throughout the 2022 season, Suaali’i showed an incredible ability to go aerial and score tries, or finish closely in the corner on the ground, while also carrying the ball so strongly he would even take the first hit-up from a kickoff. Suaali’i looks to have barely scrapped the surface of his talents, and in a union system he could fit anywhere in the centres, wing, or fullback. If Suaali’i continues to develop, the NRL should be terribly concerned the ARU will swoop in and poach the teenager as they did with the likes of Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona

Nelson Asofa-Solomona grew up playing rugby union in New Zealand before signing with the Melbourne Storm at 15. Nowadays, he is a man mountain at 200cm and 115kg. Incredibly, Asofa-Solomona is larger than both Rob Leota and Rob Valetini, who pack down the back of the Wallabies scrum. Asofa-Solomona has recently developed the type of agility and footwork for the Storm that would make him an absolute nightmare to stop in union footy.

Tolutau Koula

Tolutau Koula developed exponentially in the 2022 NRL season with his incredible defence and footwork for the Manly Sea Eagles. At roughly 180cm and 88kg, Koula is a tall, lean, fast outside back who would be ideal in a position like outside centre in union. He would be tasked largely with running through gaps created by players like Lalakai Foketi or Hunter Paisami, with the option to go wider to wingers Tom Wright, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Jordan Petaia. Koula would be an enormous headache for the sliding defences of union sides across the world.

Will Penisini

Few know that Will Penisini was a teammate of Suaali’i at The King’s School in Parramatta as they won the 2018 First XV premiership and captained an undefeated team in 2020. Penisini would play a very similar role to Koula, but with better base knowledge of the union code given his illustrious history in the sport at schoolboy level. Penisini could also form a package deal with Suaali’i that would be something of a fairy-tale reunion for the pair.

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