Axed Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan has made the stunning claim that the controversial megabucks contract he handed to Joseph Suaalii has paid for itself 10 times over because the NRL star has already generated $50million for the struggling code.
McLennan – who was removed as chairman on November 19 – was one of the driving forces behind the 20-year-old’s defection in March last year when he signed a reported $1.6million-a-season contract to play union after the 2024 season.
The Sydney Roosters star’s huge pay packed has been blasted by senior rugby union figures for soaking up desperately needed funds at a time when the game has hit its lowest ebb in Australia for decades.
Now McLennan has returned serve with a sensational claim that Suaalii has repaid the sum many times over – a year before he’s allowed to lace on a boot for the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby.
‘The criticism of him and the deal is crazy,’ McLennan told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Before he pulls on a jumper he has generated over $50million worth of publicity for rugby … and the first time he plays for the Waratahs in front of a full house, he pays for himself.
‘He was decent enough to give me a call, which is a reflection of the kind of young man that he is – and after our conversation I have no doubt he will take up his contract with RA,’ the former chairman said.
‘When he called, I didn’t ask him about his intentions but he made it clear he wants to honour his deal.
‘He has said all along that it was his dream to play for the Wallabies and Waratahs … he wants to make a difference to the sport and help out the boys.’
McLennan was ousted following an extraordinary late-night board meeting after six member unions, including the Brumbies and Queensland Reds demanded his resignation 48 hours earlier.
Earlier this month he launched a blistering attack on the ‘two-faced’ powerbrokers he believes are responsible for his demise.
‘This is well and truly a Queensland takeover. Make no mistake about it.’
While the Suaalii deal was cited as a major reason for his axing, so was his decision to bring back Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach.
Jones’s second stint in charge of the team was an unmitigated disaster as the Wallabies crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage for the first time ever and recorded just two victories under him.
He was also slammed for reportedly holding talks with Japan about taking their head coaching role just prior to the World Cup.
Now he has ‘left Australia to live in Japan permanently’, according to the publication, which also states that Jones has not secured a job in the country.
