Joseph Sua'ali'i

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Joseph Sua'ali'i
Joseph Sua'ali'i.jpg
Personal information
Full nameJoseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i[1]
Born (2003-08-01) 1 August 2003 (age 20)
Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
Height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2021– Sydney Roosters 24 16 0 0 64
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022– Samoa 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [2]
As of 30 October 2022

Joseph Sua'ali'i[3] (/suəˈliˈi/) (born 1 August 2003)[4] is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a wing, centre or fullback for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL.

Described as a teen prodigy,[5] Sua'ali'i received significant media attention during contract negotiations in 2020.[6] In 2021, he was granted an exemption to play in the NRL prior to his 18th birthday, prompting discussions about the welfare of young players.[7][6]

Background

Sua'ali'i was born in Penrith, a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, the son of a Samoan father and an Australian mother of Cambodian and European heritage.[8]

He grew up playing rugby league for the Glenmore Park Brumbies and then moved to the Coogee Wombats from age 12.[9]

Sua'ali'i attended Regentville Public School[10][11] and attended The King's School, Parramatta. Joseph set the Australian 12-year-old male high jump record in 2015.[12]

Career

In 2018, Sua'ali'i played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Harold Matthews Cup (under 16s).[11] He played rugby union as a fullback for The King's School's 1st XV from the age of 14, and in 2018 was selected to represent the GPS 1st XV, and the NSW Schoolboys and Australian Schoolboys in rugby sevens.[4]

In February 2019, Sua'ali'i re-signed with the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2021 season.[4][13] He captained the Harold Matthews Cup team in 2019, scoring 15 tries in 9 matches, and was named the Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year.[14][15]

Conflicting reports in mid-2020 suggested that Sua'ali'i had agreed to a multi-million dollar contract with either the Rabbitohs,[16][17][18] or Rugby Australia, which they denied.[19][20] In discussions with both those enitities, Sua'ali'i reportedly wanted 'get out' clauses available in his favour.[21]

In November 2020, it was reported that the Sydney Roosters had signed Sua'ali'i from 2022 onwards,[22] with the 'get out' clauses having been accepted by the club.[23] The signing was officially announced on 1 December, with Sua'ali'i joining the Roosters effective immediately after he was released from the final year of his Rabbitohs contract.[24]

2021

Sua'ali'i made his debut for North Sydney in round 1 of the 2021 NSW Cup season. Sua'ali'i scored two tries in North Sydney's 48–20 loss to the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.[25]

On 15 March 2021, the ARL Commission granted Sua'ali'i an exemption to play in the NRL before turning 18 years old.[26][27] Sua'ali'i made his NRL debut on 22 May 2021, playing at centre for the Sydney Roosters in their round 11 loss to Brisbane.[28][29][30] At age 17 years and 294 days, Sua'ali'i was the first player since Jason Taumalolo in 2010 to debut prior to their 18th birthday.[31] Sua'ali'i scored his first NRL try the following week as the Sydney Roosters defeated the Canberra Raiders in round 12.[32][33]

On 14 July, Sua'ali'i was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021 NRL season with a foot injury.[34]

2022

In round 9 of the 2022 NRL season, Sua'ali'i scored two tries for the Sydney Roosters in their 44-16 victory over the Gold Coast.[35] The following week, Sua'ali'i scored a further two tries in the club’s 31-24 victory over Parramatta.[36] In May, Sua'ali'i was selected in the New South Wales 22-man squad for Game One of the State of Origin series.[37]

References

  1. ^ "Team Lists" (PDF). schoolsrugby.com.au. Australian Schools Rugby.
  2. ^ "Joseph Suaalii - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project.
  3. ^ "Joseph Suaalii". roosters.com.au. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Rabbitohs sign young talent from rugby union ranks". rabbitohs.com.au. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  5. ^ Whittaker, Troy (1 March 2021). "'I don't dwell on it': Suaalii focused as hype builds over teen prodigy". NRL.com. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b Kemp, Emma (11 March 2021). "Joseph Suaalii and the NRL's answer to what constitutes a man and a boy". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  7. ^ FitzSimons, Peter (4 March 2021). "Suaalii playing before he is 18 years old would set a dangerous precedent". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ Nicolussi, Christian (1 March 2021). "Suaalii declares himself good to go but fellow Roosters urge caution". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  9. ^ Weidler, Danny (22 May 2021). "The mystery backer who kept Joseph Suaalii in league". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  10. ^ Georgopoulos, Marissa (15 October 2015). "Joseph Suaalii has made four NSW PSSA teams at once and dedicates most of his time to sport". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  11. ^ a b Robinson, Georgina (20 September 2018). "The 'next Folau' tipped to become a Wallaby before leaving school". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  12. ^ http://www.schoolsportaustralia.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SSA-Track-Field-Championship-Records-December-2016.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  13. ^ Bailey, Scott (12 February 2019). "Turf wars! Rabbitohs snare two of rugby's rising stars". Fox Sports. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Harold Matthews Cup power rankings: 2020 contenders and pretenders". Daily Telegraph. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  15. ^ Gibbs, Tom (26 February 2021). "NSWRL TV Previews | Suaalii debuts for Bears, Country Champs kick-off". nswrl.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  16. ^ Robinson, Georgina (7 June 2020). "'Freak of nature': Last-ditch Olympic pitch to lure Suaalii to rugby". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  17. ^ Bruce, Sam (8 June 2020). "Star schoolboy Joseph Suaalii slipping away from Rugby Australia". ESPN. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  18. ^ Hooper, James (17 June 2020). "Souths sign $1.7m freak with richest teen deal in NRL history". Fox Sports. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Star schoolboy Joseph Suaalii to backflip on Souths deal, sign with Rugby Australia". ESPN. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  20. ^ Halloran, Jessica; Ritchie, Dean; Rothfield, Phil (22 July 2020). "Joseph Suaalii rejects South Sydney Rabbitohs for $3 million deal with Australian rugby". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  21. ^ Matthey, James (15 September 2020). "Teenage footy freak Joseph Suaalii makes 'remarkable' contract demands". news.com.au. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  22. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (15 November 2020). "Teen sensation Suaalii facing prospect of two years without a game of footy". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  23. ^ Proszenko, Adrian (25 November 2020). "How the Roosters beat the Rabbitohs to the signature of Joseph Suaalii". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  24. ^ Walsh, Dan (1 December 2020). "Roosters sign Suaalii following release from Rabbitohs". NRL.com. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  25. ^ Churches, Marc (14 March 2021). "Joseph Suaalii shines in first senior competitive game". Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  26. ^ Chammas, Michael (15 March 2021). "Roosters granted exemption to play Suaalii". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  27. ^ Walsh, Dan (15 March 2021). "'Very rare': Suaalii exemption won't become NRL norm - Abdo". NRL.com. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  28. ^ McMurtry, Andrew (20 May 2021). "Sydney Roosters finally hand 17-year-old Joseph Suaalii NRL debut". news.com.au. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  29. ^ Bailey, Scott (21 May 2021). "'It's time': Joseph Suaalii, 17, named for NRL debut with Sydney Roosters after choosing league over rugby". Stuff. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  30. ^ Gabor, Martin (22 May 2021). "Broncos upset Rooster to spoil Suaalii's debut". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  31. ^ Riccio, David (21 May 2021). "NRL 2021: Joseph Suaalii to debut for Sydney Roosters". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  32. ^ McMurtry, Andrew (29 May 2021). "Super Suaalii becomes first 17yo to score an NRL try since 2009". Fox Sports. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  33. ^ Lutton, Phil (29 May 2021). "Suaalii celebrates maiden NRL try as Raiders' troubles deepen". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Joseph Suaalii's rookie NRL season ends prematurely after foot injury". wwos.nine.com.au.
  35. ^ "North Queensland defeats Newcastle 36-16 for fourth straight NRL win as Sydney Roosters and Manly post victories". www.abc.net.au.
  36. ^ "North Queensland Cowboys defeat Wests Tigers 36-12 in NRL Magic Round finale as Sydney Roosters and Canberra Raiders enjoy wins". www.abc.net.au.
  37. ^ "Fittler names 22-player squad for Game One of Origin series". www.nswrl.com.au. 29 May 2022.

External links

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