Roosters teen prodigy Joseph Suaalii becomes first 17yo to score an NRL try since 2009

NRL wunderkind Joseph Suaalii may be the most talked about rookie the NRL has seen in years but he’s repaid the faith in his second game.

Joseph Suaalii scores his first NRL try.

Teenage Sydney Roosters wunderkind Joseph Suaalii has opened his scoring account in his second first grade game pouncing on his first try in the NRL.

It wasn’t the flashiest try by any means but the 17-year-old was in the right place at the right time to nab his first four-pointer in first grade.

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After debuting last week in the 24-16 loss to the Brisbane Broncos, it was looking dire for the Tricolours as the Raiders opened up a 10-0 lead.

But football is a funny game with a single moment changing the course of a game.

And with 10 minutes left in the first half, the moment happened.

On the fifth tackle, the Roosters’ Lachlan Lam put up a bomb that was butchered by Raiders fullback Caleb Aekins.

The ball bounced perfect for Suaalii, as the 17-year-old claimed his first try in the NRL.

Shocker of a try for Canberra to concede. The Sydney kit reminds me of a particular @ULRLFC1 kit worn against the old boys #NRLRoostersRaiders

— Anthony Lewis (@tonylewis92) May 29, 2021

He became the first 17-year-old to score an NRL try since Dale Copley in 2009.

“Right spot at the right time, Joseph Suaalii off the Lachlan Lam bomb,” Greg Alexander said. “Straight over the top of his shoulder and Suaalii gets the perfect bounce to score his first try. There will be many more but this is his first. And does it spectacularly.”

Joseph Suaalii with the spectacular put down.

After the game, Suaalii was asked if this was everything he dreamed it would be.

“Ever since I was four when I started playing, all I wanted to do was play in the NRL and to score a try, it’s pretty cool,” he said.

After fullback James Tedesco went off the field with a hip pointer injury after the Raiders’ first try, it looked like a fresh headache for the NSW Origin camp.

But the star returned to the field to push the Roosters to a 16-10 lead at halftime.

Suaalii’s try swung the tide as the Roosters put the Raiders to the sword.

Lam scored two minutes after Suaalii for his first NRL try, but the Roosters just piled on the points despite the horrific injury toll.

The Raiders scored one more try but it did nothing to stop the Roosters, who put on eight tries between the 29th minute and the 69th minute.

The long road for Joseph Suaalii

Still a high school student, Suaalii has dominated the headlines throughout the year as he left both the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Rugby Australia behind to sign with the Roosters.

Fox Sports commentator Warren Smith added: “If you’re going to play for Trent Robinson (Roosters coach) you have to be able to defend your position. He’s shown he can do that so far, we know what he can do given the highlights of what we’ve seen from him in the NSW Cup for the North Sydney Bears.”

Suaalii’s path to the top grade had been fascinating NRL theatre throughout the off-season with the 17-year-old being granted clearance to play despite being under 18, which is now required under NRL rules.

Earlier in the season, Robinson said that while they had clearance, Suaalii would still have to wait.

“I’ve been quite transparent with the NRL about my plan,” Robinson said.

“We’re not going to play him before he’s ready, so it’s about playing him in reserve grade and I thought he excelled in the trial but needed to physically nail the game.

“He did better again on the weekend and he needs to keep turning up against different reserve grade teams and keep the physicality continuing in his game.”

It must feel like all the theatre was worth it.

The schoolboy rugby sensation — who last year officially chose league over a rich offer from Rugby Australia — impressed everyone while training with the Rabbitohs’ first grade squad last pre-season and it has long been a question of when, not if, he would graduate to the NRL.

He was the most sought-after talent in Australian sport last year before the Roosters wrestled him away from the Rabbitohs, despite having signed a contract with the Redfern club.

And now he has his first NRL points.

Originally published as Roosters teen prodigy Joseph Suaalii becomes first 17yo to score an NRL try since 2009