State of Origin 2021: Joseph Suaalii named in NSW Blues camp

Author: Dan Walsh NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp: Fri 29 Jan 2021, 05:23 PM

Uncapped Roosters teen Joseph Suaalii has been selected in a 29-man NSW Emerging Origin camp that features five Panthers from last year's grand final.

Brad Fittler's annual camp will take place in a reduced format on Saturday at the NSWRL's centre of excellence, with players from only NSW and ACT based clubs selected due to COVID restrictions.

Suaalii's is the most notable inclusion given the schoolboy prodigy is yet to play a senior game in any code.

The 17-year-old has impressed during his first off-season at the Roosters, landing at the glamour club after a high-profile tug-of-war between first the Rabbitohs and Australian Rugby Union, and then their NRL arch-rivals.

The Roosters have flagged an exemption application with the NRL for him to play first grade before his 18th birthday on August 1.

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While ARL chairman Peter V'landys has publicly indicated any request would be considered on its merits, he has stressed that Suaalii's physical and mental welfare remains the priority and that no blanket change to the NRL's minimum age is in play.

Fittler himself debuted with Penrith while still in school as a 17-year-old before representing Australia and NSW as a teen.

An unabashed fan of Suaalii's undoubted potential and temperament, Fittler has previously endorsed an early NRL debut if Roosters coach Trent Robinson believes the youngster is ready.

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While Suaalii is the only player named without NRL experience, Manly's Josh Schuster (one game) and Penrith's Charlie Staines (two games) have also been included in the next batch of NSW hopefuls.

Along with Staines, Penrith's Spencer Leniu, Moses Leota, Liam Martin, Tyrone May and Brian To'o give the 2021 grand finalists the strongest representation of any club.