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NSW Cup 2021: Why Parramatta’s Will Penisini will be far more than just Joseph Suaalii’s schoolboy teammate
He hasn’t attracted the same hype as his schoolboy teammate Joseph Suaalii but an 18-year-old Parramatta centre is close to the best outside back prospect in rugby league.
He was Joseph Suaalii’s centre partner at The King’s School and it won’t be long until his name is added to the list of teenage stars cutting loose in the NRL.
Parramatta’s NSW Cup centre Will Penisini isn’t far behind his former rugby union teammate when it comes to the best outside back prospects in rugby league.
Still just 18, Penisni has taken great strides with his game in the second-tier competition this season with his workrate and athleticism helping Parramatta to a top-four berth.
“Will’s been going really well. He’s still got lots to work on but the things he’s been doing he’s been doing really well,” the Eels’ Joey Lussick said.
“You hear so much hype about Joseph Suaalii debuting the other day, Will was his centre partner at school that people can sort of forget about.
“But he’s been really good and he’s only going to get better.”
There’s a host of talented youngsters coming through the Eels - including halfback Jakob Arthur and fullback Sean Russell - Penisini is close to the pick of the bunch.
In nine appearances so far in 2021, Penisini has averaged over 130 metres per game.
He’s yet to hit the park for his first grade debut but has been named on an extended bench several times, including for this week’s clash with the Rabbitohs.
Should Penisini be granted his first NRL debut he’d join the likes of Arthur, Lussick, Wiremu Greig and Haze Dunster in graduating to the top grade.
“One thing Brad has touched on a lot this year is we’re not a 1-17 squad, we’re a 30-35 man squad,” Lussick said.
“I think that really shows in Cup, where it can be tough because players are going up and down.
“Will, Jake, Sean Russell, all these young boys have been putting their best foot forward and really challenging the rest of the squad.”
The Eels will face 10th-placed South Sydney this weekend but don’t let the Rabbitohs spot on the ladder fool you - they’ll come fully loaded with Liam Knight and Origin forward Jaydn Su’A both dumped to reserve grade by Wayne Bennett.
Penisini will lock horns with Souths flyer Braidon Burns, while Latrell Mitchell’s older brother Shaq will act as 18th man for the Rabbitohs.
If Parramatta can keep its best team on the park, the Eels will fancy their chances of matching runaway ladder leaders Penrith, who are unbeaten so far this year.
Western Suburbs, who take on last placed St George Illawarra this weekend, are the other major superpower in NSW Cup - they’ve put together an eight-match winning streak and average over 34 points scored per game.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...e/news-story/05e833e611433ebe0b6c651b8a981681
He hasn’t attracted the same hype as his schoolboy teammate Joseph Suaalii but an 18-year-old Parramatta centre is close to the best outside back prospect in rugby league.
He was Joseph Suaalii’s centre partner at The King’s School and it won’t be long until his name is added to the list of teenage stars cutting loose in the NRL.
Parramatta’s NSW Cup centre Will Penisini isn’t far behind his former rugby union teammate when it comes to the best outside back prospects in rugby league.
Still just 18, Penisni has taken great strides with his game in the second-tier competition this season with his workrate and athleticism helping Parramatta to a top-four berth.
“Will’s been going really well. He’s still got lots to work on but the things he’s been doing he’s been doing really well,” the Eels’ Joey Lussick said.
“You hear so much hype about Joseph Suaalii debuting the other day, Will was his centre partner at school that people can sort of forget about.
“But he’s been really good and he’s only going to get better.”
There’s a host of talented youngsters coming through the Eels - including halfback Jakob Arthur and fullback Sean Russell - Penisini is close to the pick of the bunch.
In nine appearances so far in 2021, Penisini has averaged over 130 metres per game.
He’s yet to hit the park for his first grade debut but has been named on an extended bench several times, including for this week’s clash with the Rabbitohs.
Should Penisini be granted his first NRL debut he’d join the likes of Arthur, Lussick, Wiremu Greig and Haze Dunster in graduating to the top grade.
“One thing Brad has touched on a lot this year is we’re not a 1-17 squad, we’re a 30-35 man squad,” Lussick said.
“I think that really shows in Cup, where it can be tough because players are going up and down.
“Will, Jake, Sean Russell, all these young boys have been putting their best foot forward and really challenging the rest of the squad.”
The Eels will face 10th-placed South Sydney this weekend but don’t let the Rabbitohs spot on the ladder fool you - they’ll come fully loaded with Liam Knight and Origin forward Jaydn Su’A both dumped to reserve grade by Wayne Bennett.
Penisini will lock horns with Souths flyer Braidon Burns, while Latrell Mitchell’s older brother Shaq will act as 18th man for the Rabbitohs.
If Parramatta can keep its best team on the park, the Eels will fancy their chances of matching runaway ladder leaders Penrith, who are unbeaten so far this year.
Western Suburbs, who take on last placed St George Illawarra this weekend, are the other major superpower in NSW Cup - they’ve put together an eight-match winning streak and average over 34 points scored per game.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/...e/news-story/05e833e611433ebe0b6c651b8a981681
