Joseph Suaalii signs with Sydney Roosters after leaving Rabbitohs
A trio of Roosters legends have revealed the biggest challenge facing the most sort after talent in Australian sport and how it could go wrong.
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Sydney Roosters legends have warned that excessive “expectation and pressure” could result in prodigy Joseph Suaalii burning out.
Suaalii, 17, signed a two-year deal at Bondi on Tuesday afternoon after a prolonged and at times messy scramble between the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney and Rugby Australia.
Former Roosters champions Kevin Hastings, Bryan Fletcher and Ian Schubert are aware of Suaalii’s talents but want the pressure on him to ease.
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The youngster has arguably attracted more coverage than any other schoolboy player in the game’s history.
Despite having yet turned the mandatory 18 years old to play in the NRL, the Roosters will try to have Suaalii cleared to start next season.
“There will be high expectations on him,’’ Hastings said. “Everyone puts pressure on these kids and he hasn’t asked for any of it. I think the expectations are too much. Let’s just let him play, have fun and enjoy himself.
“Let’s not put the cart before the horse. Let’s let him progress at the pace he is supposed to progress at.
“Some kids have fallen out with rugby league because the pressure has been too much and it’s not fun anymore. I hope that’s not the case with (Suaalii).
“It’s a little different playing against kids your own age than when you come up against men. But I’m not saying he won’t be able to do it.
“He’s a tall kid, rangy. I’ve seen some of his videos when he was playing in the juniors. That was like a man playing against boys.
“I’m sure Trent Robinson will bring him along well. He will get mentored right and they will put the work into him. I hope he (Suaalii) gets a goal, seriously. We all want the next generation of stars to come through, it would be fantastic.
Fletcher, the former champion Roosters representative back-rower, added: “He could burn out, there could be too many wraps on him.
“Let’s be a bit careful about heaping pressure on the kid but I guess if he’s good enough, then get him in there. The wraps that are coming, I think he can back it up.
“It’s hard to keep a lid on it when he has every club chasing him. He must have something.”
Schubert believes the pressure on Suaalii will be external.
“I don’t think there will be any pressure on him from within the club. It’s only outside noise,” Schubert said.
“If he’s a good kid and the club is strong and keeps him level-headed, which the Roosters have a good record of doing, then he’ll be fine.”
Roosters recruitment manager Daniel Anderson was elated to secure Suaalii.
“Joseph is a highly-talented young player, and we’re thrilled to have secured his services,” Anderson said.
“This is a terrific opportunity for Joseph to continue his development alongside the established players we have at the club.”
Robinson wants the chatter around Suaalii to stop.
He told The Daily Telegraph on Monday: “I probably won’t go into Joseph. There’s been enough talk. It’s not the time for me to talk about him.”
Locked in: Now where, when does Suaalii play for the Roosters?
As the Sydney Roosters return to pre-season training on Monday, Joseph Suaalii’s arrival at the club brings with it the big question of what position the youngster would play if he was granted permission to debut before his 18th birthday in August.
The Roosters on Tuesday confirmed the signing of Suaalii on a two-year deal after he was realeased by the Rabbitohs earlier in the day.
“This is a terrific opportunity for Joseph to continue his development alongside the established players we have at the club like James Tedesco, Daniel Tupou and Joseph Manu, and we’re looking forward to watching his progress over the next few years,” Sydney Roosters recruitment manager Daniel Anderson said.
Suaalii’s switch to the Tricolours sets up a potential blockbuster showdown with South Sydney in round three after the Rabbitohs finally released the youngster last week for a fee, believed to be $50,000.
Finding a spot for him in the star-studded Roosters side for the round one clash against Manly at the SCG on March 13, barring injuries, looks as difficult as it’s been for schoolboy rugby players to stop the rampaging fullback.
With James Tedesco locked in at No.1 for the Chooks, it’s been suggested Trent Robinson will plonk Suaalii on the wing.
But with the premiership-winning combination of Brett Morris and Daniel Tupou on the flanks, it’s hard to see either making way for Suaalii.
The Roosters are also stacked in the centres with Joey Manu and Josh Morris and have Billy Smith on the comeback trail from his season-ending knee injury.
The return of mid-season State of Origin will no doubt provide Suaalii with opportunities for the Roosters but it will be interesting to see what Robinson does if he has the luxury of selecting the youngster as a 17-year-old.
News Corp revealed last week the Roosters approached NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo about playing The King’s School prodigy Suaalii before he turns 18.
Under the regulations introduced by the ARLC this year, players can now debut in the NRL before turning 18 if they receive special dispensation from the Commission.
It replaced the rule which stated no player under the age of 18 was allowed to play in the first grade competition.
Bradman Best was among a handful of breakout teenagers kept from making his debut early after he was made to wait until after his 18th birthday in August before playing first grade for Newcastle.
Meanwhile, star lock Victor Radley, who missed the bulk of the season with a knee injury, will be among the first group of up to 18 players kicking off Roosters’ pre-season training on Monday before the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Isaac Liu, Siosiua Taukeiaho and Manu return for week three.
Roosters who played State of Origin, including captain Boyd Cordner, will commence their pre-season in January.
One of the new faces at the Roosters this week will be versatile playmaker Adam Keighran who has joined the club on a two-year deal from the Warriors.
BURNING QUESTIONS: WHAT YOUR NRL TEAM MUST ANSWER THIS OFF-SEASON
The dust might have barely settled on 2020 but the planning for the 2021 NRL season is already underway as the 16 clubs scramble to improve over the arduous summer.
From premiers Melbourne to wooden-spooners Brisbane, every team has new faces and questions to answer as they gear up for another shot at the title.
Here’s the burning question your team needs to solve for 2021.
TIGERS – CAN JIMMY THE JET TAKE FLIGHT?
The Tigers are embarking on what feels like their dozenth rebuild as they continue to grapple with the longest finals drought in the NRL with former Penrith skipper James Tamou and journeyman centre James Roberts the two major recruits for 2021. Tamou is solid as a rock and should help shore up the middle but Roberts is a gamble – the 27-year old’s talent is beyond reproach, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen it and his 18 months with Souths were chequered by injury and mental health battles.
RABBITOHS – WHERE DO THEY FIND THE FINAL STEP?
South Sydney’s team is radically different to the one who played under Anthony Seibold in 2018, but the results in the years since have all been the same with the Rabbitohs reaching the preliminary final on all three occasions. The recruitment of Maroons forward Jai Arrow bolsters a forward pack that needed a little more bite, but Wayne Bennett’s men have been on the cusp of something for some time without ever really threatening to go over the top and make the grand final. Bennett has forgotten more about premierships than most can ever know, and if anyone can find the answer it’s the super coach.
DRAGONS – WHERE DOES JACK BIRD PLAY?
Bird came through the Under 20s at the Dragons before heading to Cronulla and it’s been a rollercoaster since for the 25-year old. He won the Dally M rookie of the year award and a premiership, earned a few caps for New South Wales and signed a monster contract with the Broncos that went terribly for both player and club. Now he returns to the Red V at a crossroads, after not playing a game for 18 months and with doubts over his best position. The Dragons need a star, and Bird needs a home – he may spend the first few rounds coming off the bench as he regains match fitness, but landing on a permanent spot (be it at centre, five-eighth, fullback, lock or second row) should be one of his, and the club’s, main concerns.
SHARKS – WHAT TO DO WITH MATT MOYLAN?
The James Maloney-Matt Moylan swap at the end of 2017 was supposed to be Cronulla’s springboard for the future. Maloney was nearing the end of his career and Moylan, at 26, was entering his prime years with a fresh start after things soured for him at Penrith. Fast forward three years and Moylan is at a major crossroads. The 29-year old has played just 43 games in three years due to a number of injuries and there seems to be no consensus on whether fullback or five-eighth is his best spot in the future or even if he’s still in the club’s best 17. Given his healthy salary, the Sharks need to find a way to get more out of Moylan or accept it’s time for both parties to move on.
SEA EAGLES – WHAT CAN THEY GET FROM TOM TRBOJEVIC?
Short of growing some new hamstrings in a lab or sprinkling his legs with holy water before each match, Manly must do whatever it takes to end Tom Trbojevic’s injury troubles. When their superstar fullback plays, the Sea Eagles are premiership contenders and when he doesn’t they are not – it really is that simple. Trbojevic has undoubtedly done all he can to end the ailments that have plagued him over the last few years and the luckless Test and Origin star keeps copping a bad roll, appearing in just 19 matches over the past two years.
P ANTHERS – CAN THEY DO IT ALL AGAIN, BUT BETTER?
Just as Penrith’s winning run into the 2020 grand final was unprecedented, so is their reaction to the 26-20 defeat. The Panthers had forgotten what losing felt like only to cop it right between the eyes on the game’s biggest stage. How does that impact the confidence of the young side? How do they replace James Tamou’s leadership? Is there another level for them to hit, and can they do it with the weight of expectation? Melbourne’s opening half blitzkrieg didn’t just deny the Panthers the title, it opened a Pandora’s box Ivan Cleary might struggle to put a lid on.
EELS – WHO REPLACES MICHAEL JENNINGS?
Just enough went wrong at the end of Parramatta’s 2020 season (Maika Sivo and Blake Ferguson’s injuries, Michael Jennings’ alleged performance enhancing substance saga) that one can squint and have them among the premiership contenders for next season but it is Jennings probable absence that leaves the greatest hole. Strike centres are hard to come by, and Parramatta relied on the veteran’s ability to create something from nothing more than many may admit in 2020.
BULLDOGS – ARE THE NEW BOYS ENOUGH?
After four years out of the finals the Bulldogs might finally have turned a little bit of a corner. Nick Cotric is the club’s best recruit in some time and Kyle Flanagan is well worth taking a chance on even if things didn’t work out at the Roosters. If they can land Penrith’s Matt Burton, all of a sudden Canterbury have a much healthier look about them. Given the Bulldogs have always been high on effort but perhaps a little low on raw talent it still shapes as a challenge for incoming coach Trent Barrett – but at the very least, he has some good raw materials to work on.
BRONCOS – WHAT MANNER OF COACH IS WALTERS?
Kevin Walters has been an assistant coach for a long time – with Brisbane, Melbourne and Brisbane again – but his experience as a head coach is minimal. At the top level, all we have to go off is two seasons with Catalans Dragons in 2009-10 and his 12 games in charge of Queensland. It remains to be seen if Walters can bring the best out of Brisbane, or how exactly he’ll try and do it, but like Anthony Seibold before him he’s been blessed with some tremendous young talents. Even someone as well-liked as the six-time premiership winner won’t be able to escape the heat if Brisbane get off to a slow start.
COWBOYS – WHAT WILL WE SEE FROM MICHEL MORGAN?
When North Queensland charged into the grand final from eighth spot in 2017, it was on the back of otherworldly performances from Jason Taumalolo and Michael Morgan. Almost four years later, Taumalolo has continued to bend reality to his will while Morgan has struggled with injuries and ill-form ever since and the Cowboys are yet to return to the finals. In Taumalolo, North Queensland have one of the best forwards of all time but all the metres in the world can’t make up for a lack of creativity. Whether it comes from a move to five-eighth, a new halves partner or just a fresh approach, getting Morgan back to his best should be new coach Todd Payten’s top priority.
TITANS – CAN WE BELIEVE THE HYPE?
Gold Coast already had a hidden gem in Moeaki Fotuaika, then they went out and landed David Fifita, the most dynamic young forward in the sport, and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, who became a star over the course of his maiden Origin series. Throw in the electric AJ Brimson, late-bloomer Jamal Fogarty, a somewhat rejuvenated Ash Taylor, underrated outside backs Brian Kelly and Phillip Sami and the five-match winning streak to close 2019 and the Titans are dealing with something entirely new – the weight of expectation. Because they are hidden on the Gold Coast, few have expected much from the Titans in recent years but everything is different now and all eyes will be on Justin Holbrook’s men for 2021.
KNIGHTS – WHO PARTNERS PEARCE?
The Knights have landed North Queensland’s Jake Clifford on a two-year deal from 2022, but if they can somehow get him for next year it would be a great load off coach Adam O’Brien’s mind. Right now, with Tyson Frizell joining an already strong roster and the only missing piece is a standout five-eighth to partner Mitchell Pearce. Kalyn Ponga and Jayden Brailey round out the spine but the cupboard is a little bare when it comes to five-eighths – Kurt Mann enjoyed a strong season but might not have the playmaking skills while Blake Green is 34 and coming off a serious knee injury.
WARRIORS – IS BROWN THE ANSWER?
Nathan Brown coached Newcastle for four years when the club was at the lowest point in their history. The former Dragons mentor played a crucial role in securing key recruits like Mitchell Pearce, David Klemmer and Kalyn Ponga but he was unable to convert that into sustained on-field success – the Knights never made the finals under Brown and he left with a win rate just over 25 per cent. No coach has ever been able to get the best out of the Warriors for more than a year or two, they are rugby league’s greatest enigma and could well stay that way for some time despite landing star prop Addin Fonua-Blake. Brown has gotten credit for starting Newcastle’s rebuild, but the Warriors don’t need a rebuild – they need a coach who can bind their talent together and take them to the finals. Anyone can knock down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
STORM – WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE WITHOUT SMITH?
Even with Harry Grant and Brandon Smith waiting in the wings, the Storm’s future in a post-Cameron Smith world is still clouded with uncertainty. After all, Smith has been Melbourne’s kingpin for almost two decades now and his (possible) departure leaves something of a vacuum. Who takes over the captaincy? Does Cameron Munster go to another level with more control over the side? Can Grant replicate the form of his rookie season? Regardless if he retires or leaves for another club, Smith will cast a very long shadow.
RAIDERS – IS THE BACKLINE TOO SKINNY?
Canberra’s back five has been one of their major strengths over the past five years but all of a sudden the Raiders look a little thin out wide. Jordan Rapana is still a capable winger but age and injuries have caught up with him a little while Curtis Scott endured a torrid first season in the ACT and Jarrod Croker suffered a serious shoulder injury that will keep him out for the first few rounds of 2021. Ricky Stuart needs someone like Semi Valemei, Bailey Simonsson, Matt Timoko or Harley Smith-Shields to make a backline spot their own over the summer.
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