Joseph Suaalii
Joseph Suaalii (born 1 August 2003) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a or for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL. Described as a teen prodigy, Suaalii received significant media attention during contract negotiations in 2020. 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. Background. Suaalii 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. He grew up playing rugby  league for the Glenmore Park Brumbies and then moved to the Coogee Wombats from age 12. Suaalii attended Regentville Public School and currently attends The King's School, Parramatta. Joseph set the Australian 12-year-old male high jump record in 2015. Career. In 2018, Suaalii played rugby league for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Harold Matthews Cup (under 16s). 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. In February 2019, Suaalii re-signed with the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2021 season. 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. Conflicting reports in mid-2020 suggested that Suaalii had agreed to a multi-million dollar contract with either the Rabbitohs, or Rugby Australia, which they denied. In discussions with both those enitities, Suaalii reportedly wanted 'get out' clauses available in his favour. In November 2020, it was reported that the Sydney Roosters had signed Suaalii from 2022  onwards, with the 'get out' clauses having been accepted by the club. The signing was officially announced on 1 December, with Suaalii joining the Roosters effective immediately after he was released from the final year of his Rabbitohs contract. 2021. Suaalii made his debut for North Sydney in round 1 of the 2021 NSW Cup season. Suaalii scored two tries in North Sydney's 48–20 loss to the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles. On 15 March 2021, the ARL Commission granted Suaalii an exemption to play in the NRL before turning 18 years old. Suaalii made his NRL debut on 22  May 2021, playing at for the Sydney Roosters in their round 11 loss to Brisbane. At age 17 years and 294 days, Suaalii was the first player since Jason Taumalolo in 2010 to debut prior to their 18th birthday. Suaalii scored his first NRL try the following week as the Sydney Roosters defeated the Canberra Raiders in round 12. On 14 July, Suaalii was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021 NRL season with a foot injury.