NRL will 'absolutely' consider allowing Suaalii to play for Souths early
The ARL Commission will consider allowing in-demand teen star Joseph Suaalii to play before he turns 18 after Souths surged clear in the chase for his signature.
The Herald on Monday revealed Rugby Australia was resigned to losing The King's School product, who has been at the centre of a cross-code tug of war for the best part of 12 months.
Joseph Suaalii appears set to sign for Souths.
RA has consistently denied a News Corp report that placed its offer at $3 million over three years. The Herald has learnt Souths have increased the length of their deal to four years.
The previous three-year deal offered by the Rabbitohs was in the $1.5 million range, but the new one is believed to be worth $2 million.
Suaalii is expected to take the offer this Saturday, when he turns 17 and Souths are therefore permitted to register his contract.
While Suaalii flipping his allegiance back to the 13-man game comes as a surprise, the biggest revelation of the day came when ARL Commission chair Peter V'landys confirmed the game's governing body would consider bending the rule that bars rookies making their NRL debuts before they are 18.
"Absolutely. We will look at anything that is of the benefit of the game," V'landys said when asked if Suaalii could make his debut before his 18th birthday.
"That is what the commission is there for - to look at the benefit of the game, the promotion of the game and the outcomes of the game.
"We should look at every case on its merits. We should not have blanket rules that stop you from doing things that are for the benefit of the game."
More to come