- Comes after they went Insta-official in June
- He is a Wallabies star and she is a rising netballer and daughter of Aussie great
- Lunch date comes ahead of vital Bledisloe Cup showdown
Australia has a new sporting power couple, with Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and rising Giants netballer Audrey Little stepping out publicly together.
The pair were spotted arm-in-arm in Bondi, enjoying a lunch date and confirming their relationship is more than social media speculation.
Their first official appearance follows two months after they went Instagram-official in June, a move that sparked plenty of fan and media attention.
The couple quietly announced their relationship with a series of grainy images posted by Suaalii in an appreciation post after Little helped nurse him through a broken jaw suffered playing for the NSW Waratahs.
Suaalii, who signed a reported $5.35million code-hopping deal to jump ship from the NRL and the Sydney Roosters to the Wallabies, is one of Australian sport’s biggest names.
But he is also known for being a private person despite his profile in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Joseph Suaalii and Audrey Little step out publicly in Bondi, confirming their relationship months after going Instagram official
Suaalii left the Sydney Roosters and the NRL for a record Wallabies deal as the new face of the code
Audrey Little follows in the footsteps of her father, Wallabies legend Jason Little, while carving her own netball path
Little, daughter of former Wallabies great Jason Little, is carving her own path in netball as a talented centre-court player.
She began her career at the NSW Swifts before a cross-town switch to the GWS Giants, where she is expected to get ramped up court time next season.
Suaalii will return for the Wallabies against New Zealand on September 27 at Eden Park, with the Aussies looking to defy history and stay in the hunt for both the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship.
The Aussies have already notched up a drought-breaking triumph against South Africa in Johannesburg, and the last-gasp victory over Argentina in Townsville.
However New Zealand will be another challenge altogether, even after the Kiwis were humbled 42-10 by the Sprinkboks last weekend.
New Zealand are undefeated in their past 51 matches at Eden Park, with that record featuring 49 wins and two draws.
Their last loss at the venue was in 1994 when they suffered a 23-20 defeat to France. Australia’s last win against New Zealand there was in 1986.
After recovering from a broken jaw, Suaalii leaned on Audrey for support during his toughest sporting setback
Suaalii has become a crowd favourite and will be a key player as the Wallabies attempt to snap a two-decade long Bledisloe Cup drought
The public outing was a rare appearance for the couple, with Sualii notoriously private
But with the Wallabies on the rise and the All Blacks having suffered their heaviest-ever Test defeat last week – a shock 43-10 loss to South Africa in Wellington – there’s a feeling Australia might be in with a chance.
‘Their incredible record at home at Eden Park is something definitely you wouldn’t take lightly,’ Gordon said on Friday.
‘All teams have days when they are not as competitive as they’d like to be. But they’ve been at the top of their game for a very long time.
‘I’m obviously excited (to be back). To see some of the performances the team has put together has been pleasing.
‘It’s bittersweet, you watch and you’d love to be a part of it but it’s been great to watch them build and play some really good performances.
‘I’m happy now to be a part of it and excited for the two games ahead in Auckland and Perth.’
