The South Sydney Rabbitohs is all the way to grasp the hold of a schoolboy sensation, Joseph Suaalii, following a special appeal to NRL to make the teen debut in 2021.
In June, the prodigy player signed to South Sydney until the end of 2021 accompanied by the offer of a rich three-year extension. Howbeit, the contract can’t be registered until August 1, when he turns seventeen finally. In the midst of contract registration and legal age protocols, he has been reportedly approached a ballpark figure of $3 million deal with Rugby Australia. At the same time, Rabbitohs pinged with a thriving offer to a deal worth around $2.5 million along with a promise to make Suaalii debut next year.
So, he retracted from the contract deal of Rugby Australia and went for Rabbitohs who appealed the NRL to swipe up the age rule. It will consequently allow young players to play first-grade football as soon as they turn eighteen. 17, Joseph Suaalii will turn 18 next year, making him eligible for the debut in 2021. The current rules profess that rugby players must be eighteen years old to play in the NRL. Henceforth, Rabbitohs handed over a written request to the NRL about scraping the age-rule so that the club can officially register Suaalii before the Rugby Australia makes a move.
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Peter V’landys, ARLC chairman, is positive to alter NRL rules for both Sonny Bill Williams and Joseph Suaalii to play with two contracts and access a debut before 18, respectively.
“Every situation has to be looked at on its merits.”
“We’ll change it where an application can be made to the commission,”
The ARLC chairman also claimed to look after the ‘special circumstances’ before ‘automatic approval’ of the request.
“You’ve got to be agile and ready for every challenge that’s thrown at you. You can’t have a rule that just blocks you. You’ve got to be able to use discretion.”
Source: Hudl
17, Joseph Suaalii became an instant schoolboy sensation as he played South Sydney at junior representative level and First XV rugby for The King’s School. Rabbitohs was immediately drawn towards the prodigy player, while he trained with the club amidst the pre-season. Even Alex Johnston labeled Suaaii a ‘freak talent.’
“He came in a fair bit and you could see then he was a freak talent,”
“Whatever’s happening is up to him. I hope he makes the right decision by him and at the end of the day he’s a freak. Whatever he chooses will be the right thing.”
The winger for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Johnston, didn’t long to pressurize Suaalii for what sports he would go for in the forthcoming days.
“If he goes to union then … all the best to him.”
