Joseph Sua'ali'i

Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (born 1 August 2003), also known as Anavaotaua Iosefa Aukuso Suaali’i, is a international rugby league footballer who plays as a er or  for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League.

Described as a teen prodigy, Sua'ali'i received significant media attention during contract negotiations in 2020 as well as during his announcement in March 2023 of switching to rugby union starting in 2025. 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.

Early life and background
Sua'ali'i was born in Penrith, a western 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.

Sua'ali'i attended Regentville Public School and attended The King's School, Parramatta. Joseph set the Australian 12-year-old male high jump record in 2015. He is the nephew of Samoan Australian boxer Paulo Aokuso.

Rugby league career
In 2018, Sua'ali'i 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, Sua'ali'i re-signed with the Rabbitohs until the end of the 2021 season. He captained the Harold Matthews Cup team in 2019, scoring fifteen tries in nine matches, and was named the Harold Matthews Cup Player of the Year.

Conflicting reports in mid-2020 suggested that Sua'ali'i had agreed to a multi-million dollar contract with either the Rabbitohs,  or Rugby Australia, which they denied. In discussions with both those enitities, Sua'ali'i reportedly wanted 'get out' clauses available in his favour.

Sydney Roosters
In November 2020, it was reported that the Sydney Roosters had signed Sua'ali'i from 2022 onwards, with the 'get out' clauses having been accepted by the club. The signing was officially announced on 1 December, with Sua'ali'i joining the Roosters effective immediately after he was released from the final year of his Rabbitohs contract.

2021
Sua'ali'i made his debut for North Sydney Bears in round one of the 2021 NSW Cup season. Sua'ali'i scored two tries in North Sydney's 48–20 loss to the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles.

On 15 March 2021, the ARL Commission granted Sua'ali'i an exemption to play in the NRL before turning 18-years-old. Sua'ali'i made his NRL debut on 22 May 2021, playing at for the Sydney Roosters in their round eleven loss to the Brisbane Broncos. At age 17 years and 294 days, Sua'ali'i was the first player since Jason Taumalolo in 2010 to debut prior to their 18th birthday. Sua'ali'i scored his first NRL try the following week as the Sydney Roosters defeated the Canberra Raiders in round twelve. Sua'ali'i played in the Roosters' next three fixtures (Gold Coast Titans, Penrith Panthers, Melbourne Storm), winning one and losing two. Following the Roosters' heavy round sixteen defeat to the Melbourne Storm, Sua'ali'i did not play again for the remainder of the season, as, announced on 13 July 2021, he had accrued a foot injury.

2022
Sua'ali'i was absent from the first five rounds of the 2022 NRL season from a foot (lisfranc) injury. Following round four, Sua'ali'i said “My foot is going well, feeling good. I've been making sure I've been looking after it and doing everything I can to stay on top of it. I'm happy here learning the game. But there's no rush. I'm just trying to go game-by-game.” After sitting out for another round, Sua'ali'i re-appeared for the Roosters in round six against the New Zealand Warriors. Sua'ali'i scored his first try of the season in round eight against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in a 16–12 loss.

In rounds nine and ten, Sua'ali'i continued his attacking form from the previous round, scoring four tries over the next two fixtures: a double in a 44–16 win over the Gold Coast Titans, and, in incredible fashion, a double in a 31–24 victory over the Parramatta Eels. Between rounds eleven and sixteen managed to score four tries, with the Roosters only managing to get one win from six games. Up to round sixteen the Sydney Roosters were in poor form, sitting tenth on the Premiership ladder. However, statistically Sua'ali'i was fairing very well. He had ten tries (one assist), he averaged 131 run metres, 27.5 kick return metres, 5.6 tackles (62 total), 3.2 tackle breaks (35 total), and had eight linebreaks.

From round eighteen until the second-last round (twenty-four), Sua'ali'i, and the Sydney Roosters, were outstanding. Sua'ali'i scored six tries in a seven match win-streak, to finish the season in sixth place. Regarded as the league's "in form" team, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks was the only other team to have won their last five matches by seasons end.

2023
In round one of the 2023 NRL season, the Sydney Roosters played away against the newly-entered team the Dolphins. Sua'ali'i scored the first try of the match, however the Roosters lost 18–28 at Lang Park, Brisbane.

In Anzac Round against St George Illawarra Dragons Sua'ali'i kicked his first NRL goal. He played 21 matches for the Sydney Roosters in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. He played in both of the clubs finals games as they were eliminated in the second week against Melbourne.

2024
On 26 May, he was named at centre for New South Wales ahead of game one in the 2024 State of Origin series. During Game 1, Sua'ali'i was sent off for a high hit on Queensland fullback Reece Walsh seven minutes into the game. Sua'ali'i became only the sixth player in Origin history to be sent off. New South Wales went on to lose the match 38-10. Sua'ali'i was subsequently charged with a grade two reckless high tackle offence. Sua'ali'i was later suspended for four weeks over the incident.

International rugby league career
Being born in Australia with a Samoan parent, Sua'ali'i was eligible to represent either Australia or Samoa at international level.

Samoa coach Matt Parish, in late August, called Sua'ali'i to sway his opinion on playing for Samoa. Weeks later, and a month before the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, Sua'ali'i responded to the call-up stating his intentions to play for Samoa. In late September 2022, he was named in the Samoa squad.

Sua'ali'i played every minute of Samoa's 2021 Rugby League World Cup campaign, in which they started in Pool A against hosts England. Samoa lost by fifty-four points. Although Sua'ali'i did not score in Samoa's second Group match against Greece, he helped with a try assist in a 72–4 victory. Getting another try assist in Samoa's third Group fixture against France, Samoa won four straight matches and advanced to the Final against Australia, losing 30–10.

Rugby union career
In late August 2022, it was reported that Sua'ali'i was being heavily pursued by Rugby Australia (RA) in an attempt to have him "switch codes" to play rugby union for an alleged A$10 million over five years (A$2 million p/y). It was originally cited a month prior (July 2022) that RA had a number of NRL players in their sights to target before the 2027 Rugby World Cup to be hosted on home soil. Although the reports were confirmed by Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan, he denied the price-tag associated with Sua'ali'i as being “fanciful”. Following the moves on Sua'ali'i by Rugby Australia, Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) Commissioner Peter V'landys criticised RA, stating: “[rugby union is] boring, slow and [a] hard-to-watch game.” He added: “I don’t think Sua'ali'i would go to rugby because he would be bored.”

On 25 March 2023 (round four of the 2023 NRL season), it was announced that Sua'ali'i had signed with Rugby Australia (RA) to switch codes and play for the New South Wales Waratahs and Australia starting from 2025. Although not confirmed, it was reported that Sua'ali'i's contract was between A$1.5 and A$1.6 million per year until the end of 2027. The signing of Sua'ali'i by Rugby Australia came just a few weeks after Sua'ali'i activated a clause in his contract with the Sydney Roosters to stay until the end of the 2024 NRL season, turning down a possible A$2.7–2.8 million dollar offer from rival NRL club the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Sua'ali'i's move was very high-profile, being compared to former rugby league and rugby union players Israel Folau, Sonny Bill Williams, and Lote Tuqiri. The move received both criticism and support from various individuals involved in the NRL and rugby union, including former rugby league player and coach Phil Gould who said on Nine's 100% Footy: “Go now. Don't let the door hit you on the arse on the way out. Go. Go now. Gone. He's made his decision. You sign a contract for rugby 18 months before his league contract ends.” Brandon Smith, a teammate of Sua'ali'i, quipped upon learning of his move: “Super stoked for him, he's an amazing talent and rugby really got a gem there, [but] a $1.6 million winger from the Roosters isn't going to help you beat the All Blacks. Like Peter V'landys said, go over, get that easy money and then come back to the real sport.” ARLC Commissioner Peter V'landys, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, stated of the move: “It's hard to blame Joseph for going to rugby and considering it as his future when he is going to be paid twice the money for doing half the work;” “In rugby they play around 33 minutes per match, but in league the ball is in play for 57 minutes, so it would be a lot easier to earn your money. Besides, I really think that after Joseph plays rugby for a little while he will get terribly bored and return to rugby league. That’s what the majority of the players who switch codes do.” Former Wallaby Tim Horan, responding to V’landys' comments, stated: “I've been quite disappointed in the comments from some – not all – rugby league commentators. Quite disappointed about how they probably disrespected the game of rugby, I think, and how good we are globally... Peter V'landys, who's apparently a wonderful administrator to say 'I think you're going to be bored going and playing rugby' – I think that's pretty poor form from Peter.” Adding, “You probably should have said 'Joseph, thanks very much for what you've already done for us in the game. We've got two years left, we're going to support you for the next two years. You brought a lot of boys and girls through the turnstiles and we wish you the best when you go in two years' time.”

Rugby league statistics
New South Wales Cup
 * denotes team participated in seasons finals series.

NRL