He’s the dual code teen sensation that everyone wants and Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle will fight NRL clubs hard for the signature of Joseph Suaalii.

Earlier this month, foxsports.com.au reported that South Sydney were preparing to trump RA and offer the phenom the richest contract in the history of Australian sport for a 17-year-old.

The report stated that Souths intend to table the 16-year-old a three-year, million-dollar plus deal on August 1 this year — the day of Suaalii’s 17th birthday.

Under NRL guidelines, the fleet-footed outside back — who has been spinning heads for The Kings School’s First XV since he was 14 as well as South Sydney’s Harold Matthews side — can’t be signed until he turns 17.

RA has no such guidelines. Wallabies sensations James O’Connor and Jordan Petaia both debuted as 17-year-olds, before going on to represent Australia a year later.

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Even if Suaalii signed with the NRL club, he wouldn’t be allowed to play for Souths until he turns 18 — and crucially, those dollars will fall under their salary cap for 2020.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney on Wednesday, Castle said the fight for the prodigious young talent, who stands 196cm and weighs 96kg, was well and truly on.

“Alan Jones’ comment that Joseph Suaalii has signed for Souths is not correct,” said Castle, speaking at a Business of Rugby breakfast supported by the Emirates Lions and NSW Waratahs.

“We’re still very deep in discussions with him.”

Raelene Castle says she’s happy with the young talent coming through Australian rugby. Source: News Corp Australia

New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie and RA director of rugby Scott Johnson met with Suaalii and his parents last month.

Former NRL and Japan rugby star Craig Wing worked with Suaalii at Souths last season and described him as a combination of Sonny Bill Williams and Greg Inglis.

While RA is unlikely to be able to compete financially with the NRL, Castle said that playing a global sport remained a compelling factor to sign with rugby.

“You can be an international star playing at the best rugby grounds in the world,” Castle said.

“You have the support that we’d put around you, so it’s really selling the belief that you can be a Wallaby and play on the world stage, is the dream that we’re looking to sell.”

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New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie along with RA director of rugby Scott Johnson met with Joseph Suaalii. Source: News Corp Australia

Castle’s comments come on the back of reports that former Australian schoolboys rugby sensation Kalyn Ponga has been offered a deal by the Newcastle Knights that would also allow him to have a crack at making the All Blacks for the 2023 World Cup in France.

Castle said that given Ponga had expressed he wanted to play for the All Blacks, they hadn’t spoken to the 21-year-old.

She also said RA wouldn’t chase fellow State of Origin star Angus Crichton and would rather back their own pathways that have the bulk of last year’s boom Junior Wallabies crop locked away on long-term deals.

“I don’t think we need to be thinking of those two or three guys that have gone because we’ve managed to secure and contract that two years age group alone that we believe are the stars of the future,” Castle said.

“The Harry Wilsons and the Angus Bells and the Fraser McRreights and the Marky Marks (Mark Nawaqanitawase), so we’ve contracted all those guys and are really comfortable that those are going to come through.

“We’re comfortable with who we’ve got.”

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