JOSEPH Sua’ali’i has everything that can wreck England’s World Cup hopes written down – as he jots things down during training.
Samoa’s teenage full back freak also has a home guide helping him in the form of Castleford coach Lee Radford.
The Tigers’ chief has linked up with boss Matt Parish to assist the Pacific islanders during the tournament.
And he revealed the extent of Sua’ali’i’s willingness to learn, even taking down ideas during training sessions.
He said: “I said it after our first session, I’ve never seen a young lad that big move so fluently. He can change direction and make it look easy.
“But it’s not often someone so athletically gifted is that open to learn. They usually get a chip on their shoulder, he’s the opposite.
“He brings a notebook to every training session and writes things down. He reviews his training session every day.
“Sometimes he’ll be on the goal line on his own thinking to himself what he could’ve done in situations. For a 19-year-old kid. I’ve never seen anything like it.
“He’s the same age as my eldest son, but he says all the right things, what we expect from a 300-game veteran, is incredible.
“And he’s got better at full back. His positioning and his communication with frontline defenders has come on so much.
“He’s such an incredible athlete, when he gets all those bits right, watch out. He’s promised me he’ll come to Castleford when he’s 40 – it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s running around the same way then!”
Radford may be as English as they come and played for his country but there is only one team he wants to win at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Saturday – Samoa.
And working with some of the NRL’s best players has opened his eyes to how they do things, but also how he has things right in his methods in Super League.
He added: “One of the appeals was the quality of player and I’ve not been disappointed in what I’ve seen.
“Without doubt, they’re better than I saw on TV. The prime example being Taylan May.
“They’re open books, that’s the one thing that’s been good for me – they’ve been very receptive to being coached.
“Sometimes you get an opinion our competition isn’t to the standard of the one they play in, so to see them taking things on board has been good.
“We play in different ways but a lot of the same principles are applicable.”
