tell you what though, if the media are concerned about his welfare, they could always just stop reporting on his every bowel movement.
They are far, far more concerned with clicks than welfare.. Welfare doesn't meet their KPI's so they can pay their bills.
As for the scenario - I don't point fingers at either club (souths / roosters) or even the player himself. But I completely agree with the article.
There will naturally be interest in players of promise coming through the ranks but I've never seen such media attention given to a player who has yet to play a single first grade game. Even from the NRL (on their socials etc). To me it's been absolutely ridiculous.
Of course, touting untried players as "superstars" is nothing new. This has happened before to many players. But usually when they have played at least a few games of first grade (with the dreaded "future origin star" tagged on them by some buffoon commentating the game - usually Andrew Johns).
An example of one I who had anything like the same wraps on him before playing any first grade was a fella by the name of Royston Lighting.. In Schoolboy football has was indeed an absolute weapon of a player. Sadly it didn't pan out that way when he finally got to first grade rugby league.
The last "next big star" to get the treatment was Kalyn Ponga, but the real attention didnt start until he played a few games for the Cowboys. He was even signed to Fox two years ago, featured in their promos and did some show appearances etc. This was all before he'd played rep football and the like, he was only a few seasons into his NRL experience..
Ponga is a good player, no doubt. But tying into themes from this article, he's commonly seen as "over-rated" by much of the league fanbase, under criticism a lot, and has the blowtorch put on him if he makes an error or has a below-par game...It may not affect him personally, or maybe it does.
In my opinion its the parading of him as a "superstar" well before he has effectively achieved sustained greatness in the game to validate it (yes, playing NRL is a great achievement, and something I'll never achieve. I'm not knocking him for it).
Ponga may go on to become a great of the game, a true superstar. And if he does, it will be fantastic to see. But for now if you mention his name on these forums or the topic of "over-rated" players comes up - he's regularly a starter in the discussion. No matter how good he plays or not.
The game needs superstars. It's something I think the NRL genuinely lacks at present. Suaali could eventually be one. But he shouldn't be put up in lights as he has just yet before he takes the field in first grade and proves he's got what it takes to eventually be one.
