Joseph Suaalii’s future at Roosters in doubt after Joey Manu’s World Cup masterclass

As question marks surround Joseph Suaalii’s future at the Roosters, teen sensation is free to chat and negotiate with rival clubs – and the Australian Rugby Union – in two weeks’ time.

Joseph Suaalii has a big decision to make on his future. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Joey Manu’s spectacular World Cup performance at fullback for the Kiwis has raised serious question marks around teen sensation Joseph Suaalii’s future at the Sydney Roosters.

Coach Trent Robinson and chairman Nick Politis will soon sit down with Suaalii’s agent Isaac Moses to discuss his long-term future – and no doubt he wants to stay.

However if it is true the 19-year-old wants to play fullback he will have to find a new club.

Tedesco is 29 and Manu is 26 which means Suaalii has a minimum five-year wait to get the No.1 jersey he apparently craves.

Suaalii has had two shots at fullback in recent times.

He played for a badly beaten Samoa against England on Saturday night and for the Roosters against the Rabbitohs in the elimination semi-final last month.

It’s been tough work for Joseph Suaalii in his two appearances at fullback at the top level. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

The youngster went okay on both occasions without doing anything that could possibly justify a full-time gig at fullback or an $800,000 NRL contract at the Roosters, certainly not as a winger.

At the same time Manu ran 202 metres and had 12 tackle busts for the Kiwis against Lebanon.

It was like watching Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at his very best in the Kiwi No. 1 jersey.

Last year Suaalii extended for only one season on $700,000 which means he is free to chat and negotiate with rival clubs – and the Australian Rugby Union – in two weeks’ time for the 2024 season.

Joseph Suaalii has a big decision to make on his future. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The recent NRL Rich 100 list showed the highest paid wingers in the game were Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ($800,000) at the Warriors, Nick Cotric ($600,000) at the Raiders, Josh Addo-Carr ($500,000) at the Canterbury Bulldogs, David Nofouluma ($510,000) at the Wests Tigers, Corey Oates ($500,000) at the Broncos and Waqa Blake ($510,000) at the Eels.

Watene-Zelezniak and Cotric were on deals from their previous clubs in different positions.

Politis and Robinson obviously want to keep the youngster at the Roosters.

He’s not just potentially a great player but a likeable, level-headed and humble young man.

The problem is they can’t pay a winger anywhere near what other clubs would be prepared to offer him in his preferred fullback spot.

Joseph Manu was brilliant against Lebanon. Picture: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

They also need to upgrade the contract of boom halfback Sam Walker, who they view as the long-term chief playmaker when Luke Keary finishes up at the end of 2024.

Outside of clubs like the Wests Tigers, the Knights or the Dolphins who have cap space, there is also rugby union and the fact the Wallabies would be prepared to pay him $1 million a year as they plan for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Steve Nasteski, an art dealer who sponsored Suaalii in South Sydney’s junior ranks, recently spoke of the teenager’s ambitions to play fullback.

“Tedesco is a once-in-a-generation player, but Joseph is once in a lifetime,” he told Nine newspapers.

It is well known in rugby league that Politis and the Roosters rarely, if ever, lose a player they want to keep.

However if Suaalii wants to play fullback and earn $1 million, even the Roosters can’t accommodate that.

Originally published as Joseph Suaalii’s future at Roosters in doubt after Joey Manu’s World Cup masterclass