NSW Waratahs assistant coach Jason Gilmore says they’d welcome Joseph Suaalii arriving a year earlier although issued a warning about putting too much pressure on the teenage sensation.
Suaalii finds himself stuck in a difficult situation, having signed a deal to leave rugby league in 2025.
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Reports have started to emerge that the Sydney Roosters could release the code-hopper from his NRL contract at the end of the year amid their slow start to the 2023 season.
Gilmore told reporters whilst the Waratahs would be open to the idea, he was more concerned about what the ongoing speculation is doing to the 19-year-old’s wellbeing.
"I think people forget that while they're professional footballers, Joey is a young man too," he said.
“As much as they say they don't read social media or what's going on, they're all aware of it
“Probably my big thing is around Joey’s space. Does he have good support? Is he coping with it ok? He's the talk of the town at the moment, but he is a young man still.
"...It's probably just the money side of it, like, who's paying his freight? How does that look between the Waratahs or Rugby Australia, or is there a little bit of a payout from the Chooks that softens that blow a little bit as well?"
However, Gilmore left little doubt around whether they would take him a year earlier than expected, which could potentially see the former Australian Schoolboy in line of for a crack at the Paris Olympics with the Sevens program.
"A hundred per cent. If he does get released early, it's a no-brainer. He's got to come straight across," he said.
For all Suaalii's talents, Gilmore said the prodigy shouldn't expect a walk-up start at the Waratahs and would need to fight his way past fullback Max Jorgensen or wingers Dylan Pietsch and Mark Nawaqanitawase.
"You don't want to parachute a guy straight in. He's got to earn his stripes," he said.
"He's obviously a good player, but Dylan Pietsch, Mark and 'Jorgo' have been doing the business for us every week."
While fullback would be "his main spot", the Waratahs also view Suaalii as a potential outside centre or winger.
"Joey aerially is outstanding, and probably playing in the centres for the Roosters at the moment he doesn't get to display that as much as he does on the wing with those cross-field kicking options," Gilmore said.
"You want to get his hands on the ball and you want to utilise his best assets. Whether that's right wing or fullback, they're obviously interchangeable these days.
"(Israel) Folau did both. He played outside centre, but he bounced a lot between right wing and fullback because aerially he was so good.
"It depends on the other boys. It's still 12 months away, so we've got 'Jorgo' and Dylan and Mark here who are great players as well, so the balance of the back three is the big thing.''
