Waratah’s rise from whipping boy to Suaalii replacement

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Waratah’s rise from whipping boy to Suaalii replacement

From having Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii routinely trample over him throughout the junior ranks to filling the super-sized boots of the code-crossing star – that’s the wild tale of Henry O’Donnell.

In a scenario barely imaginable not so long ago, O’Donnell will make his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the NSW Waratahs against the Fijian Drua on Friday night after being parachuted in to replace Suaalii at outside centre.

Suaalii has been ruled out with a toe injury, opening the door for O’Donnell, who on Thursday revealed the pair go way back, first clashing in under-11s a decade ago.

And it wasn’t always pretty when O’Donnell went head to head with the now-Wallabies pin-up and former Sydney Roosters NRL and NSW State of Origin ace.

“Obviously Joey’s a freak talent,” O’Donnell said ahead after the Waratahs’ captain’s run at Allianz Stadium.

“I’ve played Joey since we were growing up. He was at King’s, I was at Riverview, so he was always that size and he was always running over the top of a few of us from that young age.

“It was actually me and (fellow Waratah) Jack Bowen, we were always playing 10 and 12, and Joey was playing 10 for the other team and, yeah, he’d get the ball from 10 metres out and run over and score a try.

“We were about four-foot-five (inches) and he was six ???”

With no plans to try to emulate Suaalii, the 22-year-old former junior Wallabies midfielder has full belief he can give the Waratahs something different against the Drua.

“Joey can play in probably all positions, and I’m also again confident that I’m a slightly different skill set and maybe the coaches might want to use that,” O’Donnell said.

“So I’m just going to go about my game like I usually go and that’s just hard physical and upfront.

“That’s what the coaches have chosen and I’m pretty keen to rip into 13 or in any position with that sort of game style.”

After growing up in Sydney and developing through the NSW system, O’Donnell felt compelled to leave the Waratahs at the end of 2023 to pursue an opportunity with the Western Force.

“Two years ago when I was here, I was stuck behind Joey Walton and Harry Wilson so it seemed a bit stupid to stick around,” he said.

“I went to seek some game time, which I got, but I’m really glad to be back.”

O’Donnell has been quick to make an impression on Waratahs coach Dan McKellar, with new teammate and Wallabies winger Max Jorgensen hailing the recruit as a standout in the side’s trials.

“Henry is a born-and-bred New South Welshman, loves the Waratahs,” McKellar said.

“This is his home state, so he’s excited. It’ll be a great day for him and his family.”

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