Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i grew up dreaming of being the next Sonny Bill Williams. Now, the prodigious talent is ready to forge his own path on and off the field.
The outside back is well on the way to achieving that goal after making his NRL debut as a 17-year-old in 2021. Now, he's just days away from his State of Origin debut and is one of the most in demand footballers in the country.
It's easy to forget Sua'ali'i is just 20 years old but he's determined to ensure he leaves a lasting legacy on the sport he loves.
"Ever since I was 12 I started to realise I was good at what I was doing," Sua'ali'i said.
"I always knew I wanted to debut [in the NRL] when I was 17. I wanted to play Origin one day. I wanted to do a lot of things that the likes of Sonny Bill Williams, Israel Folau, the guys I looked up to as a kid did.
"Now I'm just trying to create my own path with the way I play footy."
Match: Blues v Maroons
Game 1 -
home Team
Blues
away Team
Maroons
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Sua'ali'i's path to a NSW debut started when he first ran out for St Marys in Sydney's west as a four-year-old. He quickly emerged as one of the most highly touted youngsters in a generation and entered the South Sydney pathway as a 12-year-old.
It was there he first met current Blues coach Michael Maguire, the former Rabbitohs mentor keeping a close eye on the future talent in the years since.
Sua'ali'i's skills are not confined to the rugby league field. He was a schoolboy rugby union star at the King's School and will return to the XV-man game next year on a lucrative deal.
The contract covers a stretch of once-in-a-generation events for rugby in Australia, with the British and Irish Lions touring Down Under next year before a home World Cup in 2027.
While the prospect of a return to rugby league looms large, Sua'ali'i isn't ready to start thinking about next year, let alone what he'll be doing in 2028.
"I do a lot of things with vision boards," Sua'ali'i said. "I haven't looked that far to be honest. I've been focused on playing for the Roosters, trying to win here.
"Now I'm in a Blues jumper, all my focus is right now trying to put my best foot forward next Wednesday.
"I've got my life set up for the next four years but I'm just focusing on right now and playing for the Blues. Whatever happens when I'm 23 or 24, I'm not sure. That's a long way away, so I'm not sure what's going to happen then."
While Sua'ali'i will make his State of Origin debut at Accor Stadium next Wednesday night, it won't be his first taste of representative rugby league.
The youngster has spent time in the Blues camp during recent series and played six games for Samoa at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.
As a result, Sua'ali'i has plenty of familiar faces in the NSW squad, with a distinct Samoan flavour present.
Sua'ali'i, Jarome Luai, Spencer Leniu, Brian To'o and Stephen Crichton all featured for the Pacific Island nation at the tournament and will turn out for the Blues next week.
Suaalii stands out in win
Sua'ali'i credits the event for helping him take the next step as a player and hopes the combinations will provide an edge on the field.
"I feel the energy of Brian, Jarome, [Crichton], Spencer, the Samoan boys," he said. "I've played with them already, got that connection with them. That helps big time going into games, especially in these big games.
"We're only in camp for 10 days, learning as much as we can and getting that connection with your edge. [The Samoan connection] is a big advantage going into the game."
