Joseph Suaalii accepts $3m rugby deal: Big problem with teen’s offer
For all the disbelief that rugby would throw $3m at a teenage footy phenomenon, there’s an even bigger issue behind the mega deal.
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Pundits have already questioned how rugby, a sport on the brink of financial ruin in Australia, could possibly offer 16-year-old Joseph Suaalii a $3 million, three-year deal but what’s more concerning for some is the human aspect to his mega deal.
The teenage phenomenon has reportedly backed out of signing a $1.7m, three-year contract with NRL side Souths and instead pledged his allegiance to rugby.
The offer has been described as “madness from a game that’s broke” but while rugby will cop plenty of scrutiny for throwing such enormous sums of cash at a school student, Suaalii will himself be under pressure when his professional career starts.
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Suaalii has been part of the Rabbitohs’ junior system since he was 11 and trained with the NRL squad during the pre-season. Bunnies hooker Damien Cook is adamant the young gun will become a superstar but is wary of the expectations that come with such a huge pay cheque for someone so young.
“To be honest I feel a bit sorry for the kid. I know he deserves everything he gets whether it’s a long career in rugby or rugby league but at such a young age it must be a lot of pressure on the kid’s shoulders,” Cook told the Big Sports Breakfast.
“As long as whatever decision he makes, he’s happy with that and he sticks to it and just backs himself.
“I honestly do believe he’s going to be a superstar in good time as well so I don’t think we should put the pressure on whatever sport he’s going to too early — he’s only 16.
“By the time he’s 20-years-old, I think he’s going to be a superstar in whatever sport he chose.”
There’s enormous pressure that comes with any footballer earning $1m a season, regardless of age. Suaalii will be expected to perform from game No. 1 in rugby and his deal will always be a talking point after every game, especially because Australia’s top players have been forced to take pay cuts because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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In the NRL you only need to look at $1m players who have failed to live up to their salary in recent times like Anthony Milford (Broncos), Ash Taylor (Titans) and Ben Hunt (Dragons) to see how hard life at the top can be — and how quickly the critics come out when you’re not winning.
Rugby league guru and Channel 9 commentator Phil Gould said on his Six Tackles with Gus podcast: “To be placing this sort of financial package in front of a 16-year-old and his family, I find irresponsible.
“I don’t see why that’s necessary.
“I find the money obscene, I find a decision like that ridiculous.”
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke hopes Suaalii hasn’t been tempted by money over love.
“This is where management is so important. There’s a very simple question. What code do you want to play? What sport do you want to play?” Clarke said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“Forget the money, forget the number because you’ve got two unbelievable opportunities.
“If this kid’s as good as what everyone thinks in whatever code he plays, money’s not going to be a concern for him. Pick the code that you want to play, fall in love with that code, be the best you can at that code and you’ll never be talking about money again.
“The money he’s going to get from Souths is huge, the money he’s going to get from rugby is huge for a 16-year-old boy. But if he is not advised to pick the sport he loves the most and prioritise that, that is horrendous guidance.”
Originally published as Joseph Suaalii accepts $3m rugby deal: Big problem with teen’s offer