‘He will be just like Joseph Suaalii’: Rugby’s teen game changers

There’s a kid who plays like future code hopper and Sydney Roosters gun Joseph Aukuso Suaalii, sons of guns and teenagers tipped to trigger new war games between rugby union and league.

There are some of the tallest, fastest and biggest teens in Australian rugby, precocious talent, sons of former Wallabies, brothers and tough nut country kids who will be crucial to the success of our future Wallabies teams.

Teens with great pedigree, famous surnames, extraordinary skills and rising stars described as “unbelievably talented”, dynamic and special.

There’s also a group of players from a western Sydney club helping mould the future of the game with their emerging talent.

On Sunday, these young players will all be showing their wares on one of the biggest days of the year for the rising stars of rugby, proudly wearing Waratahs jerseys.

Waratahs teams will take on the Queensland Reds in round three of the 2src23 Super Rugby under 16 and under 19 series with the NSW and Queensland under 15s also playing in a bonus for fans at Forshaw Park.

We spoke to the experts in rugby to identify the players to watch for an assortment of reasons – from second generation guns to super-fast, tall and strong teens with skills that have the experts excited.

REX BASSINGTHWAIGHTE: Dubbo Roos, St John’s College

LEO BASSINGTHWAIGHTE: Eastwood.

These brothers play in the Waratahs U16s and U19 sides.

Rex, the younger of the pair, has a league deal with the Roosters and is a “kid everyone will be trying to get their hands on when he leaves school’’ said Matt Evrard, NSW Waratahs pathways co-ordinator and coach.

“He has the ability to play a lot of positions,’’ Evrard said.

“Lots of kids get the spooks from being asked to play different roles, he doesn’t. He plays instinctively.’’

His older brother is a hard, collision inside centre who “love tackling people and loves running at people’’.

EDWARD BAXTER: Randwick Warriors, Shore school.

A son of a gun playing in the Waratahs 16s.

His father Al Baxter was a well known lock for the Wallabies.

He is a student of the game who played firsts with his older brother at Shore.

“He just loves the detail and of the game and getting stuck in,’’ said Evrard.

“He looks like his dad but I think he will be taller. he’s still moving into his body but is an extremely hard lock.’’

CYRUS BLOOMFIELD: Dural Rugby, Oakhill College

HASANI BLOOMFIELD: Hills Juniors, Oakhill College

In the U15s there are two players sharing the same name, going to the same school and playing together in the same team but they are not brothers. They are cousins. .

Cyrus Bloomfield is from Dural rugby and Hasani Bloomfield from Hills Juniors and will be playing together in the Waratahs 15s side selected to take on the Reds on Sunday.

Hasan