FitzSimons warns of the danger of allowing Suaalii to play before 1 August

[JB_Cloey]

That bloke is just shit stirring to stay in the limelight so he can sell more books.

Old topic, we all know the details. He can't think of anything original, that's why he re-writes history books.

Maybe he will keep getting thinner until he disappears up his own clacker.

Yawn.

[King Salvo]

I would actually play him in Jersey Flegg whilst he finishes his school - your a long time retired and who knows how long his career will last for.

I think as well as having a rule you need to be 18 to play NRL that rule should extend to not being able to sign a top 30 contract before you turn 18 as well.

It's a bit daft having a rule that you need to be 18 to play NRL but you can be under 18 to be signed to an NRL 30 player contract.

Let kiddies be Kiddies

[Paddo Colt 61]

So not keen on him either Cloey? People do write history thankfully otherwise we would be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. You might have heard that at school had you been listening.

[King Salvo]

He's 6 feet five and weighs 100kg and ran over the top of three guys in their twenties to score his second try on the weekend. He's physically up to the challenge now and the Roosters just want the flexibility to play him at some stage this year. Maybe three months before he turns 18... maybe two... maybe a week before.

But no, according to FitzSimons, his mental health can only be guaranteed if he plays in August. Presumably he can be selected to play fullback in a Grand Final if Teddy is out and won't be under any unreasonable pressure. You don't need to make a decision based on the individual... you just need to look at his birth certificate.

It was a trial match - Shouldn't play NRL this year- Play him in Jersey Flegg and maybe some Canterbury Cup games whilst he finishes his Schooling. 2022

[Larry Long Balls]

That bloke is just shit stirring to stay in the limelight so he can sell more books.

Old topic, we all know the details. He can't think of anything original, that's why he re-writes history books.

Maybe he will keep getting thinner until he disappears up his own clacker.

Yawn.

Don't you reckon he gets Lisa to give him a good pegging once a week??

The Souths scum has actually constructed an argument placing Greta Thornberg and Sam Burgess in the same group. The more it types, the more it humiliates itself.

[Larry Long Balls]

So not keen on him either Cloey? People do write history thankfully otherwise we would be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. You might have heard that at school had you been listening.

Re-writes mofo

[JB_Cloey]

So not keen on him either Cloey? People do write history thankfully otherwise we would be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. You might have heard that at school had you been listening.

Do you like anyone?

I don't think anyone can be as clever as you - you seem to know everything.

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

As Paul Kent pointed out last year, this bloke's got a long history of backing losers.

He's backed another one, here, too.

[Mickie Lane]

There are some points there worth noting, and I have no problem if the exemption wasn’t granted. With or without Sualli, we have the squad ( pending a favourable run with injuries) to win the comp, and if Sualli comes in around August more mature and hardened up by playing second grade, that will work to our advantage.
let’s be honest, do you see him replacing either of the following if they’re fully fit? Tedesco, Morrisx2, Toupo, Manu. Ikavalu and Smith can fill in the backline if needed before August, and realistically only Tedesco is a certainty for SOO and we have Manu and Morris to cover for him.

Totally agree.

[Insider]

Apparently, all 17 year olds can't cope with pressure and are suicide risks until they turn precisely 18. He says it's madness to even consider it - MADNESS, I tell you! The article even includes links to Lifeline and Beyond Blue and quotes expert on everything, Fat Richo, as his star witness.

Suaalii playing before he is 18 years old would set a dangerous precedent

The issue: Joseph Suaalii is a 17-year-old wunderkind, signed to play league for the Roosters even though still in his final year at Kings. The extremely early signs are that he just might be the player of his generation, but ...

But the NRL has a wise rule that says no player may take the field in the competition until they are 18 years old – and Suaalii’s next birthday isn’t until August.

The solution proposed by the Roosters, with the likely backing of the NRL: Make an exception for Suaalii, and waive that rule. On the basis of watching one reserve grade game, Roosters management has no doubt he is ready.

My problem: so many points, so little time!

The Roosters and the NRL need to calm their farm, cool their jets and by the by ... bide their time. To view the issue with clarity, you need to know something of the background of why the rule was first brought in.

Rare for the NRL, the rule was proposed and accepted purely and simply for the welfare of young players. While it is one thing to have teenagers star at schoolboy level, there had been too many instances of clubs throwing young players into the cauldron of top-grade rugby league – likely the most gruelling football competition on the planet – before they were ready, and damaging them. For every Brad Fittler, Israel Folau and Mitchell Pearce who coped at 17 and even prospered, there were players like Adam Ritson, Paul Mellor and Jordan Rankin whose careers suffered after being thrown in too young.

Beyond the physical rigours though were the mental ones, and what prompted the rule change in 2015, was the tragic early deaths of five young men from the National Youth Competition, who had seemingly not coped with all the pressure that early stardom had placed upon them.

“We did a detailed study of those kids and what happened to them,” the NRL’s head of game strategy and development Shane Richardson explained as they brought the new rule in. “We had a long look at it, and worked internally with the ... people that work for us here, about what it’s done to families or otherwise so it had a real effect on it. It didn’t have as big an impact on me in the beginning than it did in the end.”

But by the end of the study he and his fellow administrators were convinced.

“The information we’ve gathered about player welfare is that decisions should be made about their future when they turn 18, [and not before]. People will give you anecdotal evidence of Brad Fittler playing etc, but it’s a small minority compared to the welfare issues of the greater majority.”

And after all, it merely brought the NRL into line with other fierce football codes where it had long been recognised that such an age welfare rule was needed. You cannot play in the NFL until three years after you have graduated from high school. In professional rugby you must be at least 18 to play, and 19 if you play in the front row. In ice hockey and the fierce NHL, you have to be 18.

To those who still oppose this vital and well-researched approach to mitigating damage to young men, tell me: what is the actual downside of Suaalii waiting? The most obvious downside is that the Roosters will have to do without a maestro on the wing for most of the season, and leave him in the wings. It is a tough one but I think, given how star-studded their entire side is, they can learn to live with it, yes?

The second downside is that those of us who like watching rugby league, will be denied the pleasure of watching him for another five months. Another extremely tough one, and yet I think we will cope, yes?

But look to the upsides! The key one – beyond likely ensuring a higher mark in his HSC! – is this: you keep Suaalii safer to shine at a later point. Just by being patient you give his body precious time to get stronger and be better able to withstand the devastating hits that are coming his way, as huge men from opposing teams line up the young genius to give him their own version of “Welcome to first grade, son!” You will also give him more time as a young man to cope with the aforementioned enormous mental pressures that are coming his way, with more expectations on his debut than any other player in living memory, with the possible exception of Fittler.

And yet, the risks of waiving the rule are not just the possible physical and mental impacts on Suaalii himself. The most obvious one is that if you waive a welfare rule just for the one player and that player gets seriously hurt, the NRL will certainly be morally culpable, and perhaps even legally culpable.

The rule was brought in because the NRL realised its duty of care to young players. If you waive that rule for an outstanding young player, and that player gets badly hurt, are you in breach of your duty of care? In my view, quite possibly.

In sum? In sum, the NRL brought in a very good rule, just six years ago. It is madness on every level to waive it.

So he uses examples of players who made it under 18 and then stresses the ones who didnt. That is no more significant than the players who debuted at 18 19 20 who went on to bigger things versus the players who debuted at 18plus and fizzled into oblivion. Where is the difference, some make it and even more dont pretty much whatever age you debut at.

[top_joe]

I agree with a lot of points her made; Lil Jo Jo should not play until he is 18.

However, Fitz is still a massive tosser who I have no time for.

Also however, Wilko is a massive minx who I would have all the time in the world for.

[Waylander]

Apparently the claims about Freddy playing at 17 are “anecdotal evidence“, not established fact. That’ll do me, Richo. Idiot.

[Mickie Lane]

‘Does it hurt? It’s a little perplexing’: Crowe breaks silence on Suaalii’s defection to Roosters

Souths’ owner Russell Crowe has broken his silence on teenage superstar Joseph Suaalii’s defection to arch rivals the Roosters on a deal worth the same money he was on at Souths.


Sydney Morning Herald reported the Hollywood mega star was confused why the 17-year-old decided to accept a similar offer at a rival club.

“Does it hurt? It’s a little perplexing, shall we say,” Crowe told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I just hope Joseph is in a place where he’s comfortable and where he can play his best football.

“I think he’s a good kid. We’re not quite sure what the difference is between our dollars and somebody else’s dollars, because theoretically the figures are the same. Who knows?”

Suaalii was offered a contract extension worth $1.7 million at Souths, but the club ultimately baulked at his management’s attempts to put get-out clauses in his contract.

Crowe had Suaalii and his family up to his farm during the negotiation process, but denied having any direct involvement with contract talks for Suaalii or any other Souths’ player.

“He’s a great kid,” Crowe said.

“Met his mum and sister, they came up to the farm. But there’s a complete misunderstanding with what I do at the club.

“I have never negotiated a contract with the player at any time. The questions I ask are more about culture.

“They’re the conversations I have with players. When it comes down to the deal-making, I don’t have anything to do with it.”

Suaalii’s attempts to have get-out clauses inserted in his contract were seen as the final straw for Souths, before the prodigy was wooed by the Roosters and Trent Robinson, with Sonny Bill Williams also involved in the Tri-colours’ pitch.

Souths’ coach Wayne Bennett reportedly told sources close to him that the pursuit of Suaalii became “too hard”.

The Roosters accepted Suaalii’s contractual conditions in the hope that Robinson and the club’s culture could make it very difficult to leave after two seasons.

Time will tell if the Rabbitohs live to regret not doing more to keep him.

[Rooster_6]

The longer Crowe lives in denial the better for us.

#NoSoul

[Teddy]

The longer Crowe lives in denial the better for us.

#NoSoul

Russel Crowe, the gift that keeps on giving ‘I don’t know what the difference between our dollars is and someone else’s’ the difference is this Russel, you’re are farken tool, that runs a criminal enterprise, which employs literal scum, all their recent dealings are a bee’s dick short of corrupt.
JS is a clever kid and he made the right decision in terms of receiving the very best football and life education under the best coach in recent memory, a family club that takes pride in everything they do, most importantly taking care of their players and families.

Farken Russel has to be in most people’s top 5 ****wits I dislike list. Wanker. Thanks for Luke and giving Angus back and taking dipshit off our hands and giving JS to us hahahaha.