Sensational Suaalii is a giant threat

IT tends to happen once a generation that we come across a player who has all the physical attributes to play rugby league.

We had Sonny Bill Williams. Then Greg Inglis. And now Joseph Suaalii is the next example of that player who is genetically designed to be a phenomenal performer with outstanding attributes.

The Samoa full-back – still only 19 – is definitely that type. He could be something hugely special. He’s been special already in the games I’ve seen him play and he will only develop more.

Suaalii (above, being tackled by

England’s Sam Tomkins during their Pool A clash) does remind me of Inglis in many ways.

He is tall, lean, athletic, very strong for his size but also with that raw bravery and coverage to throw himself into the line as hard as he possibly can.

He has good footwork and is quick. If you were to put together all the physical attributes needed to make an outstanding back, he’s your man.

The key for England in today’s World

Cup semi-final against Samoa is making sure they persistently kick to the side of the pitch Suaalii least likes bringing the ball out from.

And it can’t just be two or three sets: they have to relentlessly kick there like they did against Papua New Guinea.

Then they need a good five, six or seven man kick-chase every time to deal with him. But it’s also dealing with him off the back of Samoa’s offloads. That’s an incredibly strong feature of his game.

It can create chaos in the defensive line and he has the physical capabilities to take advantage of that. England need to be wary on those two fronts. England especially needs a wall of white on that kick-chase.

His battle with Tomkins, the England captain, will be fascinating. He plays the full-back role very differently but is crucial to England’s hopes of success.

He’s a player who has developed over time and his game intelligence now is outstanding along with his game management.

I think England will win narrowly. And it will be a classic.