Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is comfortable dealing with the pressure that will come with the Wallaby jersey as the superstar prepares for his eventual debut.
Suaalii has had the spotlight on him since emerging on the sporting scene as a 17-year-old and was front and centre as the Wallabies launched their jersey for the British and Irish Lions series.
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The 21-year-old has been thrust straight into the Wallabies squad for the end-of-season tour and opened up about how he remains steady amid the external noise.
"I don't see it as an expectation. I see it as a privilege," Suaalii said to reporters.
"I went into the camp as a kid and met Kurtley Beale, Allan (Alaalatoa) and 'Slips' (James Slipper) so it's even cooler to be in a position now to wear the jersey and inspire young kings.
"...I feel like everyone has an opinion, which is respected. I'm on my own path. I feel I'm dreaming how I want to dream.
"I didn't have one doubt in my mind I was coming over. I knew what I was doing straight away. I've always wanted to play union one day and it's always been a dream of mine so no matter what anyone said, it was always stuck in my mind. Nothing was going to change."
The former Australia U18s representative has vivid memories of the 2013 series, watching Israel Folau score a double whilst wincing at the sight of Beale slipping and missing a game-winning penalty.
“The memories of sitting on the TV and watching that, it’s always been such a dream of mine to put the Wallabies jersey on, especially with the spring tour coming up and the Lions tour," he notes.
Suaalii has been in contact with ex-NRL teammates about his experience so far, even joking he's already trying to recruit good mate and Parramatta Eels standout Will Pennisi to reunite their Kings partnership.
"A lot of people have been asking what it’s going to be like and stuff like that, so I just can’t wait to see the experience at all," he believes.
Suaalii will be off contract after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, but admits the prospect of competing in rugby sevens at the LA Olympics could keep him in the code.
"I did watch the final of the sevens (in Paris this year)," he said.
"Yeah, look, I think it's every young kid's dream to go to the Olympics.
"If you're in school and everything stops with the 100-metre race or any Aussie that's going well, my teacher in primary school would always stop.
"I remember Jessica Fox coming to school after she won a gold medal and presented some sports awards, so even the memories kind of sparked something in myself to potentially one day be a dream of mine."
