The war of words after Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s defection to the Wallabies continues, with veteran rugby league journalist Paul Kent declaring Rugby Australia (RA) boss Hamish McLennan “needs to grow up and be a man”.
Speaking on NRL 360, co-host Kent didn’t mince words after McLennan teased that more NRL players could follow Suaalii.
The 19-year-old has agreed a three-year, $4.8million deal with Rugby Australia to face the British and Irish Lions in 2025 and the Rugby World Cup two years later on home soil.
Suaalii will remain signed with the Roosters for the next two NRL seasons.
After Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould declared earlier this week: “Go now. Don’t let the door hit your butt on the way out. Go. Go now,” tensions between the two rival footy codes have risen.
The war of words continued after Joseph-Akuso Suaalii’s defection to the Wallabies, with veteran rugby league journalist Paul Kent (pictured) declaring Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan “needs to grow up and be a man”. .
Speaking on NRL 360, Kent didn’t mince his words after Hamish McLennan (pictured) teased that more NRL players could follow Akuso Suaalii’s lead
McLennan called a number of other comments – including a cheeky dig from Roosters prostitute Brandon Smith – “thuggish”.
His comments got under the skin of Kent, who took aim at the RA chief on Wednesday.
“He’s the chairman, I never heard of him before last week but I’ll tell you what, he has a little problem with this guy,” Kent said.
‘He is [McLennan] driven by his ego and he keeps talking about rugby league like… all that shit that rugby people talk about, ‘good thing you’re playing a game on the east coast – we’re going around the world’. Well, good luck to you. fact is this [Australia] is where we live.
“This whole Suaalii situation is taking advantage of rugby league’s popularity so don’t try to screw up rugby league and call it a little game. The fact is that the athletes are better.’
Addressing reference comments from Roosters manager Trent Robinson, Kent said: “As he said, of any rugby code, league or union anywhere in the world, this is the most important competition – that’s the fact.
“That’s why they come here and admire the way these guys play football.
“And he’s trying to get a little publicity from Rugby League. I just think the sooner he can shut up the better for everyone.”
Suaalii, 19, has defected to the ARU on a three-year deal starting in 2025 worth $4.8 million
Kent added: “He called rugby league sluggers today because they were not happy with the way this deal went through.
“He was the one who did the little secret deal and didn’t want the rugby league people to know what was going on.
“Come on, grow up and be a man.”
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