Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii insists he is ready to make an almost instant return to the rugby field, declaring himself ready to go for either the Wallabies or Australia A in the United Kingdom next month.
Suaalii took the first steps in his return to the 15-player game on Monday when he joined Waratahs and Brumbies players in Canberra as part of one of two camps before both touring squads are named next week.
Revealing he had enjoyed a little holiday on Hamilton Island after his NRL season came to an end when the Roosters were beaten by the Storm in a preliminary final just over two weeks ago, Suaalii said he wanted to get straight onto relearning the game he played as a schoolboy alongside current Wallabies star Angus Bell.
And that includes playing an actual game, not just training, on tour next month.
"If they throw me in, I'm ready to go. I've always backed myself playing footy, I've always backed myself going against anyone. I'm very confident in my abilities to play," Suaalii told reporters in Canberra on Monday morning.
Asked whether he had a preference for the Wallabies or Australia A, Suaalii added: "I feel like anywhere, honestly, wherever Joe [Schmidt] puts me [I'll be ready]. I'm just putting my head down and just learning as much as I can and just play footy; at the end of the day, it's just a game of footy, nothing else."
The Wallabies face England in London on Nov. 9, before facing Wales, Scotland and then Ireland over consecutive weekends. Meanwhile, Australia A play England A and then club side Bristol on Nov. 8 and 17 respectively.
There is a situation where Suaalii could see game time for Australia A and then join the Wallabies' squad for their final two Tests against Scotland and Ireland, depending on the health of Joe Schmidt's squad and just how the coach wants to integrate the 21-year-old into his wider group.
There is also uncertainty around what position Suaalii could play in rugby, with the natural path to start him first on the wing and then progress either to fullback, or perhaps even the midfield, from there.
"Look I've always been open to playing centre, fullback, wing," he said. "If the coach put me anywhere; I feel like I'm just a footy player at the end of the day, any position I'm ready to play. I don't really have a preferred position."
Suaalii makes his return to rugby at a critical moment for the game in Australia, while his rumoured $1.6m per season deal has divided opinion ever since it was first announced in March last year.
First agreed under Rugby Australia former chairman Hamish McLennan's stewardship, Suaalii's deal was viewed in some parts as the game living beyond its means, while just last week Melbourne Rebels directors tabled their legal action against the governing body, potentially drawing into a prolonged battle that could rip further funds out of the game.
The Wallabies have meanwhile won only four of nine Tests so far in 2024 and despite there being signs of encouragement under Schmidt, Australia's record in recent times speaks for itself.
Asked what he thought of his new teammates, Suaalii said he believed there was enough talent to take the team forward.
"I feel like we have got a lot of quality boys in the team," Suaalii. "We've had a couple of good games against Wales, obviously a couple of losses to South Africa, Argentina and the All Blacks too.
"But there is a strong base here at the Wallabies and I'm just very keen to be a part of the team and I'm very confident in the team, too."