Roosters teen prodigy Joseph Suaali’i is set to stay next season but the club still has a fight on its hands to keep the young talent from heading elsewhere with Rugby Australia keen to get him into Wallabies colours.
Suaali’i intends to take up the option in his contract for 2024 with the Roosters as part of the four-year deal he signed after switching from South Sydney’s junior ranks, according to a NewsCorp report.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has identified the former schoolboy rugby star as one of his priority signings targets in the lead-up to the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and the World Cup two years later. He would have loved to have convinced him to cross codes next year but will have to wait at least another 12 months.
The 19-year-old began his NRL career on the wing at the Roosters and is being used in the centres this year but wants to become a fullback.
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However, his path to his preferred position is blocked at the Roosters by their captain, James Tedesco, the incumbent NSW and Australian custodian so rival NRL clubs and Rugby Australia can offer the prospect of playing fullback on top of a multimillion-dollar contract offer to tempt him away from the Tricolours.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The Roosters have also signed Newcastle winger Dominic Young for next season so Suaali’i’s decision to stay could have ramifications for veteran Daniel Tupou, who is off contract and could be squeezed out of the club’s star-studded backline.
Suaali’i, who represented Samoa at last year’s World Cup, scored a try for the Roosters in the Round 1 upset loss to the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
He has crossed the stripe 17 times in just 25 NRL appearances after making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2021 when the Roosters received special dispensation to alllow him to play before he had reached the minimum age limit.
Get_real
Roar Rookie
He is just a hard runner. Players need to learn how to tackle him.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
He was still on the tit when he moved to Qld ?? But as a right center he persisted in carrying the ball under his left arm making him unable to fend the inside defender, plenty of tries from kicks but ! Storm released him. Big Mal , left center , ball under left arm, caving in sternums with his right arm fend
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Thought he played league for Coogee up to under 13's then poached/lured to union with a scholarship/off the book funding, to Kings ? So South Sydney League junior ?
GB
Roar Rookie
Pickett? :laughing: Which Rabbitohs players are Penrith juniors? I'd like to know.
Pete Samu's Tucked Shirt
Roar Rookie
Why chase NRL players and instead back actual rugby players that are familiar with the systems, positional play etc. I'm tired of League 'stars' coming over, gifted big contracts and spend 1-2 professional season essentially learning the game... Every time a league player starts a rugby players opportunity dies... Not a fan
Chris
Guest
It’s alright GB. Lots of South’s juniors are actually Penrith juniors. We all know that. Next someone on here , will be saying I’m Pickett as well. :laughing:
Chris
Guest
Now Suaalii will want near a million per season, after the end of next season. Especially if Rugby Australia is offering that. How much will Suaalii be on next year ? It couldn’t be on a small contract amount, even if he triggered a clause to stay. Must come with a raise in the contract amount. It’s all good. They’ll be able to pay the million, buy more players & still have cap space. :laughing:
Nat
Roar Guru
Yep it's what every 19yo star aspires too, being a unknown in a country that doesn't care against a bunch of has beens. Or he can earn that same money earning that money in league and live right on Bondi doing it.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Fair call.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Dont' get me wrong, I'm dead against signing NRL stars. Colossal waste of money imo. But there's plenty of talent that gets developed by rugby and then snaffled by league, which is immensely irritating.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Well he played for Souths juniors during those high school years as well, so it's probably more accurate to say he was developed by both League and Union during his high school years.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Misunderstanding mate. “Trigger” is the wrong word. I should have said “hot button” issue perhaps. Point being simply that paying millions to bring in NRL players is not financially sustainable when there are proven development players (Kellaway is a great eg) and good youngsters already in the system Lynagh, Jorgensen etc.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Yeah not triggering at all. It’s just weird that you would pick a guy who was developed by rugby all through his high school years to argue that rugby doesn’t develop young players.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
We have five wingers who can defend Wright , Petaia , Muirhead , Koreibeti and Kelloway , and another five who don’t . Dauguna , Vunivula , Nawaqua , Jorgensen , Campbell . Why would we spend good money on a winger who can’t pass .
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Sorry. I should have remembered this is a trigger issue. Some MORE young talent. Keep in mind that the rugby schools are giving scholarships to young league talent left right and centre, who continue to play league through their teens. Like Sua’ali’i.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
You mean like that young bloke, what's his name, Joseph Sua'ali'i, who spent 5 years playing 1st XV rugby at Kings and played NSW & Australian schoolboys, only to be signed up by the Rabbitohs? Maybe the NRL should try developing some young players.
Brett Allen
Roar Rookie
Mismanagement. I’ve come to think of RA as the NRL’s 18th club, and like a few NRL clubs they rely very heavily on recruiting from other NRL clubs.
Pete
Guest
Its not a dream it's a reality big bucks to be made in Japan and France beats anything the leaguies can offer maybe a nice weekend out to Penrith....
Adam
Roar Guru
That delusion exists in Australia too. I came to watching the two codes in 2001 and the 5 years after that could have been the defining moment for Union in the country. They were flushed with cash and talented players and the game was in the media. Then it all evaporated
Adam
Roar Guru
You and everyone else.