Opinion Joseph Suaalii is being set up to fail

[Chief_Chujo]

I don't think he will see much of first grade this year tbh. A game here and there against lower opposition. He might toy with 17yr olds but the physical jump to first grade and playing against men every week is huge.

Think this move was more about placating the family and keeping him away from Yawnion.

 

[Zadar]

I don't think he will see much of first grade this year tbh. A game here and there against lower opposition. He might toy with 17yr olds but the physical jump to first grade and playing against men every week is huge.

Think this move was more about placating the family and keeping him away from Yawnion.

I mentioned something similar that it may have been a bit of a carrot to get him to sign.

Other than the head gear, he really didn’t stand out amongst the men yesterday.

think he has a bit of filling out to do yet.

 

[Bring back John Fifita]

I mentioned something similar that it may have been a bit of a carrot to get him to sign.

Other than the head gear, he really didn’t stand out amongst the men yesterday.

think he has a bit of filling out to do yet.

Indeed he’ll fill out. In the same type of mould, Inglis was a stick at the same age. Suaalli looks bigger than him already.

 

[Perth Red]

Haha, he was good with the kids after the game so let him play. If I'm a 17 year old in reserves I'm sending NRL an email today asking for the same exemption! On what grounds exactly has the commission recommended this exemption?

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I thought he went ok for a kid against some older blokes. It'll definitely take a bit of time, hopefully not too much pressure on him

It was interesting how they mentioned players in the past that played before 18, Fittler, ET, Daley , Eadie. The system was a lot different then where you had 3 grades and would occasionally play twice on the same day.

Id like to know when the rule changed to 18 or older.

 

[AJB1102]

It was interesting how they mentioned players in the past that played before 18, Fittler, ET, Daley , Eadie.

They don't mention Jordan Rankin?

 

[wittyfan]

I thought he went ok for a kid against some older blokes. It'll definitely take a bit of time, hopefully not too much pressure on him

It was interesting how they mentioned players in the past that played before 18, Fittler, ET, Daley , Eadie. The system was a lot different then where you had 3 grades and would occasionally play twice on the same day.

Id like to know when the rule changed to 18 or older.

2015 I think.

 

[wittyfan]

They don't mention Jordan Rankin?

He must have been one of Kenty's "misses".

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Haha, he was good with the kids after the game so let him play. If I'm a 17 year old in reserves I'm sending NRL an email today asking for the same exemption! On what grounds exactly has the commission recommended this exemption?

https://www.thefootycoach.com/2021/...X5OP9Hp0vGcMklWOAAAj25oQ6LF89p-VtKjUmbKQFWIkE

On Monday afternoon, the NRL rubber-stamped the exemption following months of stringent testing and evaluation. An independent high-performance specialist ran his eye over Suaalii, benchmarking him against the average physical indicators of an outside back in the NRL.

The Glenmore Park Brumbies junior also underwent a psychological evaluation from a sports psychologist.
The application included notes from the Roosters coach Trent Robinson and recruitment manager Daniel Anderson during their visit to The King’s School principal over the Christmas holiday.

While Suaalii’s school friends were on holidays in January, the 17-year-old began his studies to get ahead of his peers and allow him the time to spend more time at the Roosters. He is still boarding at King’s and is not required at all Roosters’ training sessions. Nor is he expected to be rushed straight into the Roosters side for this week’s game against the Wests Tigers

 

[tumbidragon]

Gotta luv Uncle Nick. Straight OG player!

 

[mozza91]

Haha, he was good with the kids after the game so let him play. If I'm a 17 year old in reserves I'm sending NRL an email today asking for the same exemption! On what grounds exactly has the commission recommended this exemption?

He plays for the Roosters, Rabbitohs or Broncos?

 

[Captain Apollo]

Souths laid the groundwork for this - https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/so...o-play-suaalii-before-18-20210315-p57axc.html

 

[PARRA_FAN]

He must have been one of Kenty's "misses".

He's still playing for us, I think Kenty mentioned not many have left the game early.

 

[Valheru]

Haha, he was good with the kids after the game so let him play. If I'm a 17 year old in reserves I'm sending NRL an email today asking for the same exemption! On what grounds exactly has the commission recommended this exemption?

On the grounds that it will piss people like you off.

I'm all for it.

 

[davi]

I think its a poor decision. All its now going to do is someone else will apply for a similar exemption be turned down and bring the but 'he got the exemption why not me'. It will bring in the favoritism conspiracy theories as well.

I would be just happy to scrap the exemption rule and make a hard and fast rule that you have to be 18 to play first grade and be done with it.

Joseph Suaalii was going to have to wait till August if he didn't get the exemption. I counted roughly five games left in the regular season excluding finals. It doesn't take into account when he turns 18 in August as I don't know when that it is. But from the Roosters perspective it isn't completely the ideal time blooding a new player. The exception is if they rest all there first graders on the last game of the season before the finals.

 

[Knight76]

I can't see any NRL team applying for an exemption to put a 17yo in to the NRL that isn't ready for it. Suaalii certainly looks physically ready for it.

But, if an NRL team isn't going to throw a 17yo to the wolves that isn't ready, why do we even need the rule at all. Just scrap the damn thing entirely.

The only real debate here is the rule, and the exemption, not if he is ready.

 

[skeepe]

Makes the game look amateurish and stupid. Dumb decision.

 

[Danish]

I think its a poor decision. All its now going to do is someone else will apply for a similar exemption be turned down and bring the but 'he got the exemption why not me'. It will bring in the favoritism conspiracy theories as well.

I would be just happy to scrap the exemption rule and make a hard and fast rule that you have to be 18 to play first grade and be done with it.

Joseph Suaalii was going to have to wait till August if he didn't get the exemption. I counted roughly five games left in the regular season excluding finals. It doesn't take into account when he turns 18 in August as I don't know when that it is. But from the Roosters perspective it isn't completely the ideal time blooding a new player. The exception is if they rest all there first graders on the last game of the season before the finals.

I'd say he is most likely to debut during origin depending on how many of our backline is in the blues side (obviously Teddy but possibly Toops and maybe even a Morris if there are injuries).

Outside of the origin period I doubt we'll see him this year if our backline stays fit.

 

[big hit!]

Makes the game look amateurish and stupid. Dumb decision.

Exactly. You either have to be 18 or you don't have to and they scrap the rule entirely.

The professional skeptic in me says that this was a done deal when he signed to keep him from going to rugby. All the shit and 'reasons' for exemption are merely box ticking to make it look like they actually went through some sort of credible process.

 

[Perth Red]

Exactly. You either have to be 18 or you don't have to and they scrap the rule entirely.

The professional skeptic in me says that this was a done deal when he signed to keep him from going to rugby. All the shit and 'reasons' for exemption are merely box ticking to make it look like they actually went through some sort of credible process.

I have little doubt that was exactly the under the desk deal done to keep him in the game. Its weak but hardly surprising.