There aren’t many 20-year-olds who boast the same maturity levels as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii which explains why the Roosters star has been able to handle the intense media scrutiny over whether he should have been picked to make his State of Origin debut given he’s off to rugby in 2025.
Suaalii will join the 15-man code on a multi-million dollar deal, but that didn’t stop Blues coach Michael Maguire from naming him in the centres for next week’s opening game against the Maroons in Sydney.
The 196cm aerial threat has developed into one of the strongest ball carriers in the NRL, but he still had his doubters who questioned whether he was fully committed to his state given he dreams of also playing for the Wallabies.
The only place to watch every game of every round LIVE with no ad-breaks during play is Fox League, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
“I understand it because everyone has an opinion,” he said.
“I respect their opinion so I’m not going to sit here and have a go at them because there’s no point in me doing that. I just focus on my family and myself and how I play footy for the Roosters.
“People can have their opinions, but until I hear it from the actual source like Madge or the coaches, those are the only people I listen to. You can read the media and the news, but you don’t actually believe it until you hear it from the source.”
MORE NRL NEWS
‘SEE WAYNE NAKED AGAIN’: Epic moment Fletch & Hindy invade QLD camp
‘WHAT IS GOING ON?’ Inside Blue’s ‘crazy’ rise… and ‘reset’ behind epic comeback
‘WERE YOU THERE?’: NSW guessing games over Hynes as QLD star drops Slater hint
‘DO THE JERSEY PROUD’: Moses reacts to Hynes selection amid ‘helpless’ Eels reveal
The Roosters star appreciates the role the media plays in promoting the game, but he was disappointed that he was painted in such a way that made the public question his intentions.
“I know that the media play a big role in what people think and the perception people have,” he said, having copped plenty of negative headlines when he signed with rugby last year.
“The stories go on social media and the kids read it, and then a lot of the older people read newspapers and that’s the perception they get.
“I fully understand the role that the media has, but sometimes it gets frustrating when people read newspapers and kids go on social media and see headlines that aren’t true.
“I just stick to myself, and as long as my family and my best mates know how I’m feeling and that everything is true, that’s all that matters to me.”
Suaalii freely admits that there were doubts throughout his journey that he would get to this point, but the man who was once touted as the game’s next great talent has lived up to the hype and will realise a childhood dream next week.
“I put the jersey on and looked in the mirror, and you still pinch yourself,” he said.
“I was a four-year-old kid and now I get to fulfil a dream, so putting the Blues jumper on is special because I’ve worked so hard to get to this point.
“You can’t really put into words how you feel.
“I feel like when I hit 13 or 14 that I knew I could play footy and this was my gift that I was given from the man above.
“From then, I put goals down and manifested things. One thing I always wanted to do was put a Blues jersey on, so to be able to do that is very special.”