Eels Harold Matthews Cup winger Suliasi Aho, 16, compared with cult hero Semi Radradra
Size, pace, power. The Eels have a 16-year-old prospect coming through their ranks who shares similar attributes to one of their former rampaging stars.
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Meet the 16-year-old Parramatta flyer being compared with Semi Radradra.
Suliasi Aho, who at 192cm is taller than most of the Eels’ squad and also weighs 90kg, is destined for big things after excelling in the juniors.
He starred for the Eels in their opening Harold Matthews Cup win over Canberra last Saturday, brushing off five defenders to score a scintillating solo try.
Aho also kicked a goal in the 14-4 victory over the Raiders.
The Patrician Brothers Blacktown student played for Parramatta in the Andrew Johns Cup (under-16s) last year as a 15-year-old. He has also represented the junior NSW schoolboys team.
Damian Quinn coached Aho in the NSW under-15s Combined Catholic Colleges side last year and compared him to former Eels winger Radradra.
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“He has that long and rangy style like Semi,” Quinn said. “He is a big human.
“He has a really good physique that he will start growing into.
“The height and reach that he has is difficult to get to and he is also a very good mover on the field.
“He does possess a lot of power and strength in his body for a young guy.”
Aho is unassuming, especially around people he doesn’t know.
But Quinn said it was a different story when he felt comfortable, like during a camp with the NSW Combined Catholic College team last season.
“He is mad,” he said. “He is a very reserved boy but we had a really close-knit group and he was the life of the party.
Suliasi Aho from @TheParraEels #HMatts team does not like being tackled 💪
— NSW Rugby League (@NSWRL) February 10, 2020
🎥Full #HMatts highlights: https://t.co/u9uvdCE5Ny pic.twitter.com/VvLsFHv5YF
“He was really energetic and just a good kid to have around in a camp situation.
“From a coaching point of view, he listened really well, took on criticism and thought about what he needed to work on.
“He was a very good team member.”
Greg Beacroft coached Ahu at Patrician Brothers and believes the rising Eel can play in the NRL if he works hard.
“He is genetically blessed,” Beacroft said. “He has all the physical attributes to be a good player, but now it is a question of how much sacrifice he is prepared to put in.
“The little things will help him go from a good junior player to a good NRL player and that means working on your training, your diet and listening.
“He can achieve anything if he is willing to put the effort in.”
The Eels host Cronulla in round two of the Harold Matthews Cup at Ringrose Park on Saturday from 11.30am.
Originally published as Eels Harold Matthews Cup winger Suliasi Aho, 16, compared with cult hero Semi Radradra
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