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Suaalii among Fittler's Emerging Blues

3 minute read

Teenage prodigy Joseph Suaalii has been named by NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler in the Emerging Blues squad, as the only non-capped NRL player in the group.

Nathan Peats speaks to City coach BRAD FITTLER during a City NSW Origin training session at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The NRL's most-hyped teenager will get a taste of State of Origin camp before he's eligible to play first grade, with Joseph Suaalii picked in Brad Fittler's Emerging Blues squad.

Suaalii was on Friday one of 29 youngsters named to take part in Fittler's camp this weekend, with only NSW residents included due to border restraints.

In a list including Bradman Best, Campbell Graham and Tyrone May, Suaalii is the only selection not to have played first grade.

Suaalii is yet to even represent NSW in junior Origin but spent almost the entire last year in the spotlight.

The centre of a debate around age limitations for NRL debutants, he was snapped up by the Sydney Roosters from South Sydney for 2021 on a two-year deal.

The Roosters are yet to formally apply for an exemption to debut him early, and before his 18th birthday on August 1.

But Suaalii has caught Fittler's eye.

The NSW Origin coach went to watch him in a schoolboys rugby match last year and was immediately impressed by his maturity.

Fittler also still has close links to the Roosters, where Suaalii's pre-season is said to have impressed club officials.

Meanwhile, Penrith's burgeoning junior talent sees them have the most representatives in the squad with six.

The Panthers players are May, Spencer Leniu, Moses Leota, Liam Martin, Charlie Staines and Brian To'o.

NSW Emerging Blues: Jake Averillo, Bradman Best, Shawn Blore, Blayke Brailey, Nat Butcher, Kyle Flanagan, Campbell Graham, Emre Guler, Jack Hetherington, Tex Hoy, Sione Katoa, Spencer Leniu, Moses Leota, Liam Martin, Tyrone May, Toby Rudolf, Jacob Saifiti, Josh Schuster, Charlie Staines, Joseph Suaalii , Moses Suli, Siosifa Talakai, Tommy Talau, Tevita Tatola, Brian To'o, Stefano Utoikamanu, Sam Verrills, Brandon Wakeham, Hudson Young.