‘The sky is the limit’: Suaalii bags double on debut in second grade trial

Joseph Suaalii, rugby league’s most-hyped teenager, needed just 16 minutes to make his mark in the Canterbury Cup trial where the young star’s debut against men was the main event.

Impossible to miss in his headgear, white boots, socks pulled down around his ankles and the North Sydney No.3 on his back, Suaalii threw a dummy and barged over for a four-pointer.

First of many? Joseph Suaalii goes over for his first try in his debut for Canterbury Cup outfit the North Sydney Bears.Credit:Getty

He then had a double just after the hour with a brilliant right step.

An entourage of nearly 40 family and friends in the southern end of Queanbeyan’s Seiffert Oval stood and applauded and waved a special banner.

After his first outing, Roosters and rugby league fans should be seriously excited about the 17-year-old.

He needed to be assisted from the field by two trainers, but it appeared nothing more than a serious case of cramp, which was expected for a youngster who had not played a competitive game of either rugby code in nearly two years.

While Suaalii’s father Chris politely declined to comment on his son, proud uncle Amani Suaalii was happy to praise his nephew, who is destined to make his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters this season.

“We’re excited to watch him play – I was never going to miss this game,” Amani said, who sat next to Chris and banned NRL agent Isaac Moses. He is living his life, living his dream. He is doing good.

“The sky is the limit for him. Only he can tell you [how far he will go]. Since he could walk he was playing football.”

Amani quipped he was never keen to take on Joseph in the backyard games of football, and backed his nephew to take the NRL by storm.

Entourage … Joseph Suaalii’s friends and family, including uncle Amani (front right).Credit:Getty

“He is doing alright with the hype, he knows where he is going, we just let him do what he wants to do,” Amani said. “I can’t wait [to see him play first grade. He is ready.”

Never had a rookie attracted so many headlines before a trial game.

Even the Roosters had done their best to keep a lid on the hype, but the interest was always going to be there after the fierce bidding war that took place between South Sydney and Rugby Australia before Nick Politis and the Roosters snuck under both their guards.

Joseph Suaalii crunches Canberra centre Seb Kris.Credit:Mark Evans/Getty Images

Suaalii started the game at right centre and will have to bide his time behind New Zealand international Joey Manu. The NRL have already asked the Roosters for more information before granting their wish to have Suaalii play in the NRL before his 18th birthday in August.

Suaalii knocked on with his first touch as he went up for a bomb, crunched centre opposite Seb Kris on another occasion, and sent a brief scare through the camp when he got up holding his right hand midway through the first half. A trainer quickly attended to The King’s School Year 12 student before he soldiered on.

The only people more relieved than his family were the punters across the road at the local RSL enjoying the $4.20 schooners during happy hour.

Halfback Sam Walker was another teenager heading into the trial with a lot of chatter, but the youngster was a late scratching and saved for the Roosters’ main trial.

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