NSW Waratahs lock Jed Holloway has cheekily fired back at Rugby League cult hero Brandon Smith as the fallout from Joseph Suaalii's signing continues.
Suaalii signed a three-year deal on Saturday to leave the Sydney Roosters and join the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Australia.
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New Zealand international Smith got first shot at his departing Roosters teammate over the weekend, stating "A $1.6 million winger from the Roosters isn’t going to help (the Wallabies) beat the All Blacks" in his typical larrikin nature.
This invited Holloway to respond when asked about his comment, continuing the good-natured back-and-forth with a retort of his own.
“I reckon Joseph just wants to do a bit more travel than the east coast of Australia,” Holloway told reporters on Monday.
“It’s always nice to have a bit of a dig between Rugby and Rugby League.”
Holloway was just bursting onto the scene when Israel Folau made a similar move from AFL to the 15-a-side code, believing Suaalii can have a similar impact on the younger guys.
“I think it’s exciting,” Holloway said.
“I was in the squad when Izzy (Folau) got announced as a young kid I can just remember going home and being so excited that one of my heroes was coming over to Rugby Union.
“Joseph is the same age as some of the young guys here but he definitely has that presence and that aura around his name.
“We’re super excited and he’s definitely a talented football player so I’m excited to see what he does in Rugby…We had a few boys here go through school with him, (scrum-half) Teddy Wilson is good mates with him and they are just really excited for him.”
Waratahs assistant coach Chris Whittaker felt similar, having played alongside the likes of Lote Tuqiri, Matt Rogers and Wendell Sailor.
However, he shut down claims Suaalii was a 'convert' to Rugby Union.
Rather, Whittaker believed his signing shows the pathway system is working, pointing to the development of Max Jorgensen, who was also pursued by the Sydney Roosters before signing with the Waratahs.
“He came through our system and I think the good thing is it shows our pathways and what’s happening below is working," Whittaker believes.
“Max Jorgensen has come straight out of school and his development through the Rugby program has been sensational, obviously Joseph played in that Aussie U18s, the last one to beat New Zealand so we know him well, we’ve seen a lot of him and are excited to have him there.
“…We were lucky enough to keep Max in Rugby and now Joseph’s come back to Rugby so it’s nothing but positives.
“These guys aren’t converts, they’re Rugby players so I hope (there are more). I think if anything, guys are excited to play Rugby and stick in Rugby.”
