Smiles and sledges as former NRL foes prepare for first rugby showdown
Former NRL players Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Zac Lomax, once teammates in State of Origin, are set to face off for the first time in rugby as opponents in a Super Rugby Pacific match between the Waratahs and the Western Force. The pair shared lighthearted banter during a media event ahead of the clash, reflecting their friendship despite the on-field rivalry. Both players are being heavily promoted by Rugby Australia due to their high profiles from their rugby league careers.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-04-30T09:30:00Z","datePublished":"2026-04-30T09:30:00Z","description":"Former NSW Origin teammates Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Zac Lomax will clash for the first time in rugby on Friday night. They warmed up by lobbing hand grenades at each other.","headline":"Smiles and sledges as former NRL foes prepare for first rugby showdown","keywords":"Australian rugby, Force, Waratahs, Super Rugby","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Iain Payten","jobTitle":"Senior Sports…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.