Rugby’s Next Joseph Suaalii, Teens NRL Want, Waratahs Players To Watch And Future Wallabies
There is a young player who plays very similarly to Joseph Suaalii, one of the sons of guns and teenagers who are predicted to spark war games between the league and the union over their signature. Get to know the rising stars of the next generation of rugby.
Young athletes like Joseph Aukuso Suaalii, a prospective code hopper and gun for the Sydney Roosters, are predicted to spark renewed hostilities between rugby union and league.
Australian rugby is home to some of the world's tallest, quickest, and heaviest teenagers. These prodigies include the sons of previous Wallabies, brothers, and tough nut country youngsters, all of whom will play vital roles in the future of the national side.
High-profile teenagers are "unbelievably talented," "dynamic," and "special," with illustrious backgrounds and namesakes.
In addition to that, there is a group of players from a western Sydney club who are contributing their burgeoning potential to the process of shaping the sport's future.
At the beginning of this month, all of these young athletes proudly wore jerseys for the Waratahs as they displayed their skills during one of the most important days of the year for the up-and-coming stars in the sport of rugby.
At Forshaw Park, the Waratahs defeated the Queensland Reds in both the inaugural game of the NSW and Queensland under 15s rivalry and in round three of the 2023 Super Rugby under 16 and under 19 series.
We consulted rugby experts to get their take on who to keep an eye on for a variety of reasons, and their recommendations range from "second generation guns" to "super-fast, tall, and strong teens with skills that have the experts excited."
SWEET 16: Tahs in tryfest
REX BASSINGTHWAIGHTE: Dubbo Roos, St John’s College
LEO BASSINGTHWAIGHTE: Eastwood.
Both the Waratah U16 and U19 teams feature these brothers.
NSW Waratahs pathways co-ordinator and coach Matt Evrard described younger brother Rex as a "kid everyone will be trying to get their hands on when he leaves school" and signed him to a league deal with the Roosters.
Evrard remarked, "He has the ability to play a lot of positions."
While many children would be frightened by being cast in a new part, he seems unfazed by the prospect. He just plays like he has to.
"I love tackling people and running at people," describes his older brother, a tough collision inside the center.
Edward Baxter: Randwick Warriors, Shore School
A son of a gun who currently plays for the Waratahs 16s
His father, Al Baxter, was a well-known lock for the Wallabies. He played during the 1960s and 1970s.
He is a student of the game, and he and his older brother both played firsts while they were at Shore.
According to Evrard, "He just loves getting stuck in and paying attention to the details of the game."
"He looks much like his dad, but I think he'll be taller than his dad was. However, he is a very difficult lock because he is still moving into his body.''
CYRUS BLOOMFIELD: Dural Rugby, Oakhill College
HASANI BLOOMFIELD: Hills Juniors, Oakhill College
There are two players in the U15s that do not share a biological relationship despite having the same name, attending the same school, and participating in the same sport as one another on the same team. They share a common ancestor.
Cyrus Bloomfield plays for Dural Rugby, and his brother Hasani Bloomfield plays for Hills Juniors. Both of them have been selected to play for the Waratahs 15s team that has been chosen to compete against the Reds on Sunday.
According to Evrard, Hasani is a dynamic tighthead prop "with an incredible build for his age and skill set to match." The Waratahs have already signed him to a deal with the team.
Cyrus is said to have a "instinctive skill set" and is ranked highly for his versatility in the backline. He is also a talented rugby league player.
HAMISH BULL: Wagga Crows, The Scots College
LUCAS BRODERICK: Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
These exceptionally tall trees belong to the Waratahs U15 team that was just recently recruited.
Bull, who currently attends Scots College but was born and raised in the country, was a member of the Wagga Crows junior team when he was younger.
The Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School is Broderick's current educational institution of choice.
These two locks are among the tallest teenagers in the game for their age - and even taller than their age - and they are locks.
Both of them stand at over 1.95 meters already, and they still have some room to expand.
DARCY FELTHAM: Hills Juniors, Oakhill College.
Another student and rugby player from the same Oakhill school as the Bloomfields
With a lightning-fast burst of speed, Feltham is one of the Waratahs' fastest players.
The Waratahs U15s will put him to good use.
He's a rugby league player who recently recovered from a stress fracture.
JAMES FINEGAN: Randwick Warriors, Waverly College
This teenage backrower has been making a lot of people take notice for the Waratah U16s.
He is the son of former Wallaby Owen Finegan, and despite his young age, he played first XV for Waverley.
In the season opener for Super Rugby U16s, he astonished everyone by being named best on the ground.
Fantastic control of the ball.
ONITI FINAU: Eastwood Colts
Currently a gun for the Waratah U19s and a Barker alum.
The Tahs are eager to keep him, as they believe him to be the "next hooker in the pathway," as Evrard puts it.
A prospective professional rugby player, "he's one I think has every attribute," Evrard added.
He's a major threat offensively and defensively.
ISSAC FONUA: Blacktown Scorpions, The King’s School
A second rower who is of the highest caliber and plays for the first XV
A young teenager hails from the illustrious Blacktown Scorpions Rugby club, which is located in the western region of Sydney.
In the realm of the Waratahs U16s, there is a large adolescent who is making his presence known.
"He possesses a lot of talent. Evrard identified the youngster as "one of those kids who will be a lock/backrow kid."
"He's a monstrous guy. Everyone who has worked with him compares him to training a cub since he has gigantic hands and feet and will grow to be very large. He is currently among the tallest people.''
ANGUS GROVER: Lindfield Junior Rugby, Saint Ignatius College, Riverview.
For some time now, this Waratahs U16 star has been drawing admiring glances.
He plays rugby alongside two of his brothers.
As a leader at halfback, he is vocal and upbeat.
Evrard remarked, "He bounces around, he's a real marshal."
EHREN LITTLE: Randwick Warriors, Waverley College
He may be diminutive in stature, but he more than makes up for it in his ability as an all-around athlete.
This young athlete for the Waratahs U16s is one of the players in the back row who stands the tallest.
In addition to being a brilliant basketball player, he was selected for the Australian 16 and under water polo squads when he was just 15 years old last year.
JARED KING, Randwick Warriors, Newington
However, despite the fact that he is one of the less prominent Waratahs players, he is held in very high regard.
According to Evrard, King, who is already under contract with the Waratahs, "has the ability to be a game breaker and a game controller."
Due to the fact that he is an effective finisher, you might see him playing on the wing as well. Additionally, he is a very good kicker.''
In the year 2023, the Waratahs U15 team will be using the fields.
HEAMASI MAKASINI: Randwick Warriors, Newington College.
Participates in the Super Rugby series for the Waratahs U16s.
He is a large winger in rugby and a superb rugby league player.
Evrard stated, "He won't break speed records, but he's difficult to deal with."
If he isn't trying to palm you off or shove you off, he might as well jump over you.
He reminds me of Israel Folau.
TALEN RISATI, Dural Rugby, The King’s School Parramatta
Future superstar Talen Risati has already been spotted.
With the U15 Waratahs, he has participated in touch, rugby sevens, rugby league, and XVs.
He'll be the same as Joseph (Suaalii), Evrard said, adding, "Everyone will be after him."
"He's got a lot of the same abilities... he's constructed the same way, so he's also tall, nimble, athletic, has a terrific vertical, and is competent in the air.
I can't believe how talented he is. He's versatile enough to play anywhere on the field, but we'll put him in at No. 15 so he can adjust his game based on what he sees in front of him.
He can kick the ball quite far and has a natural ability to counterattack. All the requisite abilities of a young Suaalii are present in him.
While Suaalii and Cyrus Bloomfield went to Oakhill, Risati transferred to The King's School.
PHIL TALAILEVA: Eastwood Rugby
TJ TALAILEVA: Southern Districts, Barker College
The Waratahs also have another set of sibling teammates.
Phil will be playing for the Waratahs U19s, and TJ will be playing for the Waratahs U16s.
Both brothers are from Newcastle, and both play No. 8.
There is a lot of anticipation awaiting TJ's return from an ankle injury.
JUSTICE TAUMOEPEAU, Oatley Junior Rugby, St Joseph’s College
This young gun has received nothing but praise since joining the Waratahs U16s.
Waratahs forwards coach and former all-star player Pauli Taumoepeau is the father of the team's No. 8.
The Waratahs have already signed this obnoxious teenager to a contract.
According to Evrard, he stands out from other backrowers due of his versatility.
He can play outside, despite the stereotype that No. 8s like to hit people and are fast with the ball. He provides a lot and is quite effective in the outfield.
In international rugby, "size seems to be everything," and he has the potential to be one of the truly huge back rowers.
LEWIS WILSON, Newport Junior Rugby, Saint Augustine’s College.
Plays juniors for the renowned Warringah Rats and is a native of Sydney's northern beaches.
He's a great tighthead prop and a member of the school's first team.
He was one of the U16s' most impressive performers in the first several games of the series.
He's large, one of the strongest, and a good scrummager, as Evrard put it.
His physique is a weapon he can use effectively.
BILLY DICKENS, Eastern Suburbs Rugby
A student who formerly attended Newington College and who was a member of the Cronulla Sharks rugby league team
In the U19s, he has established himself as a true leader while playing halfback.
"He is nothing at all like the typical halfback," Evrard remarked about the player.
He has a strong running game and enjoys attacking from the defensive line position.
"He is the antithesis of someone who avoids contractual obligations. He is imposing in size and possesses a powerful running game.''
ARCHIE SAUNDERS, Warringah Rats Rugby
The New South Wales Waratahs have already extended an offer of employment to Saunders.
He is without a doubt the fastest player on the Waratahs team, in addition to being a talented winger.
According to Evrard, "He is lighting quick and is not losing any of his speed at all."
Earlier in the year, it was announced that Saunders will be joining the Junior Wallabies squad.