Exclusive: Joseph Suaalii reveals what life’s like in the NRL spotlight

Joseph Suaalii’s days are so busy that he’s rarely up past 8.30pm. Not that he is a ‘party man’ anyway as he knuckles down to the task of making a name for himself in the NRL.

NRL young gun Joseph Suaalii pictured in his first interview and photo shoot since joining the Sydney Roosters. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The alarm goes off each morning at 5am inside the dormitory of one of Sydney’s most prestigious private schools.

The most-hyped teenager in Australian sport climbs out of bed to begin a rigorous daily schedule as a HSC student and budding NRL superstar.

Joseph Suaalii, 17, is the youngster so good that the NRL was forced to change age-limit rules to allow him to play for the Sydney Roosters before he turned 18.

Already described as the game’s next Sonny Bill Williams, Jarryd Hayne or Israel Folau, Suaalii is the first rookie to be approved for an exemption.

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Joseph Suaalii pictured in his first interview since joining the Roosters.

The clearance was granted after the Sydney Roosters submitted a comprehensive 12-page management plan to the NRL that included:

* An alcohol and gambling welfare program.

* An independent fitness assessment that showed he was physically as strong as any of the Roosters’ backline stars.

* Mental capacity test results from an independent psychologist.

* Duty of care plans and mentoring from the leadership group.

* Academic and vocational strategy from The Kings School and a reference from the headmaster.

Now the young giant — he’s 196cm tall and weighs 98kg — is raring to go.

If the stress for a HSC student isn’t enough, imagine adding the pressure of turning up to work each day to train as a professional athlete in the gladiatorial world of NRL, alongside your boyhood heroes and champions of the calibre of James Tedesco and Luke Keary.

Joseph Suaalii in action for Roosters’ feeder club the Bears in a NSW Cup Trial Match. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Not that the Kings School student is showing any signs of all this being too much to handle.

“At the end of the day I’m playing footy,” he says, “and it’s just a game.

“I want to win and I want to have fun.”

This is the first time Suaalii has sat down for a one-on-one interview since independent commission chairman Peter V’landys threw the registration rule book out to allow the boom teenager to play.

Otherwise there was a danger of him being lost to rugby union and Australia’s Sevens team for the Tokyo Olympics.

In a rare break from his busy schedule, we sit down in the Roosters boardroom at Moore Park headquarters.

He talks like he is 17 going on 25. Style, impeccable manners, maturity and not at all fazed by the task that lies ahead.

Asked about the pressure and the hype, he says: “I honestly don’t feel it. I want to just try my best. I want to finish school and I want to do well. I’m looking at options of studying at university after that. Something to do with sport and business.”

Joseph Suaalii heads back to The JKings School after training.

The schedule he is dealing with right now is so demanding.

“The alarm goes around 5am,” he says, “I try to get two hours with my tutor before training starts.

“If training is at 8.30am I try to get here (at the Roosters office) by 6.30am.

“I meet my tutor then it’s training for the day, back to the boarding house, and dinner in the evening. It’s a long day but it’s fun. And I love it at boarding school with all my mates.”

Suaalii rarely stays up beyond 8.30pm.

He missed Thursday night’s Eels v Storm blockbuster because was too tired and went to bed.

These are the sacrifices he is prepared to make. No parties, no alcohol.

“My social life is hanging around with mates from school,” he said.

“I‘m not a big party man. Never have been. I don’t drink. My parents have never been drinkers.

“On Sundays after a game I’ll go home and spend some time with the family. Then it’s back to school and footy for another week.”

Suaalii is now playing for the Roosters’ feeder club the North Sydney Bears in NSW Cup.

The Roosters coach Trent Robinson is determined not to rush him.

He’ll be gradually eased into the side over the first eight weeks of the competition.

“I feel I’m ready to go,” Suaalii said. “I don’t know when Robbo is going to put me in. It’s a matter of me putting my head down and working as hard as I can.”

Suaalii’s highlights reel on You Tube shows the most spectacular video package of pure football skill, size and strength.

He turned his back on the South Sydney Rabbitohs and super coach Wayne Bennett to join their NRL arch rivals in a controversial off-season transfer.

“After talking to Robbo I just wanted to be here and part of the great history of the Roosters and how they’re winners, “ he said. “Souths have a great history, too, but I just felt this was right.”

The opportunity to learn under superstars Tedesco and Keary was another big attraction.

“I’m a bit like a walking sponge,” he said, “I’m always asking all the senior players for tips and advice.

“As a kid, you look up to these guys and now I see and work alongside them every day.

“I know there’s been some hype but I don’t have time to read the papers. I honestly haven’t seen much of it.

“Am I nervous? You’ve got to be nervous. That’s just footy.”

HE’S A MATURE ONE-OFF

Phil Rothfield - Comment

The NRL wisely took several months to approve the Joseph Suaalii contract registration.

Rules were changed almost a decade ago to stop clubs and impatient coaches from rushing teenage stars into the most brutal body-contact sport before they were mentally and physically ready.

The burnout rate with rookies was becoming a major issue.

Suaalii is a one-off exemption and it is understandable why.

Joseph Suaalii is proof there needs to be an exception to the rules. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

We spend 20 minutes together for this interview and you walk away feeling like you’ve been talking to a seasoned media-trained footballer.

The curve ball questions are met with a straight and solid bat. Questions regarding his controversial departure from the South Sydney Rabbitohs are politely declined.

He is such an impressive young man, showing absolutely no indication of buckling under the pressure of HSC exams combined with training as a professional athlete alongside NRL superstars.

Suaalii is an exceptional sporting talent.

He has already represented the state in junior rugby league, rugby union, basketball and AFL.

The NRL thought long and hard about granting this exemption.

Other clubs wanting to fast track rookies will need to be as comprehensive and as genuine as the Roosters.

And they’ll need a footy player physically and mentally as strong as this one.

He’s ready.