NRL 2021: Joseph Suaalii cleared to play for Sydney Roosters but coach Trent Robinson vows not to rush him

Teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii finally has his ticket to ride in first grade but fans expecting him to come up against the club he walked out on could be disappointed.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has vowed not to rush teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii into first grade despite his clearance from the NRL on Monday.

The 17-year-old HSC student is no chance of playing in the grudge match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the club he walked out on, in round three because of the amount of hype around the game and the fact he is doing early HSC exams.

As revealed by The Daily Telegraph two weeks ago, the independent commission has approved Suaalii to become the first 17-year-old since champion forward Jason Taumalolo back in 2010.

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His official starting date will depend on injuries and the form of the outside backs who kicked off the season in slashing form against Manly on Saturday at the SCG.

Josh and Brett Morris, Joey Manu, Daniel Tupou and James Tedesco were all outstanding.

Robinson, who has been previously reluctant to talk about the teen sensation, told The Daily Telegraph on Monday he had no setting starting date in mind.

“We’ve been working towards this (clearance) for a few months since we signed Joseph,” Robinson said.

“The first step was getting him a clearance to play … now it’s about making sure he’s ready to play in our system.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson expects Joseph Suaalii to cope with the physical demands.

“I thought he did really well on Sunday (for North Sydney) and the previous week in the trial.

“We’ll get him into the side when he’s ready and when we’re ready.

“There’s no set date. The goal is to not overuse him and I’ll make sure he’s ready.”

Robinson is convinced Suaalii will cope the physical demands.

Suaalii is preparing to do his HSC exams.

“From what I saw on Sunday in a physical game I really liked,” he said, “He was as physical as any of the other outside backs. The thing is to keep giving him experiences.

“He’s got some exams over the next few weeks so it’s not just about the footy. He’s got to be ready off the field as well. It’s a matter of him progressing well over the next month or two.”

After the Rabbitohs game the Roosters play the Warriors, Sharks and then Melbourne Storm.

Then it’s the Anzac Day blockbuster against St George Illawarra at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said there had been a “fairly rigorous process” involved in approving the Suaalii deal.

“I am even more confident having spoken to the head master of the school, having spoken to Joseph, having reviewed his actual reports, I mean he actually has exceptional grades.

“He is quite ambitious, not just in terms of his football, he wants to not only complete his HSC, he wants to continue his studies.

“And the arrangement and the proposal put forward by the Roosters included a significant amount of time and investment into ensuring not only that he is able to complete his HSC but actually then commit to further studies.

“This is always about applying an exemption in really rare and exceptional circumstances.

He is pretty switched on. I was really impressed. He is clearly mature beyond his years.

“And the Roosters are not rushing him into this. They have a very detailed plan for getting him ready on and off the field. I think this is an opportunity for the Roosters to give a talented person some additional support to so that he starts to think about his career beyond playing.

“He carries a lot of expectation but also I think he is the type of player that can inspire others.

“He is certainly a role model for his brothers and sisters and certainly a role model for some of the other kids at school is the feedback I get.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Joseph Suaalii cleared to play for Sydney Roosters but coach Trent Robinson vows not to rush him