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Roosters star Joseph Suaalii has acknowledged there is a “dangerous” element to his running style and declared that he is “trying to eliminate it” from his game.
Suaalii was issued a warning from the World Cup match review committee for leading with his knee into a tackle while starring at fullback in Samoa’s quarter-final win over Tonga.
It’s not the first time the 19-year-old has been pinged for an incident of that nature. He was given a “concerning act” notice earlier this year for the same thing while playing for the Roosters.
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Suaalii RUNS OVER Tonga to set up try | 00:57
Suaalii assured News Corp there’s no malice behind his running style but understands he needs to work on it.
“It is the way I have been running my whole life,” he said.
“I never got in trouble for it when I was younger. Obviously now there is a dangerous part of it on the other side.
“It is (about) controlling how I run. I am not intentionally meaning to do it. It is about not changing my technique, but running with my knee not as high.
“I am trying to eliminate it from my game.”
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Suaalii could breathe a sigh of relief after being cleared to play in Samoa’s semi-final clash with England at 1.30am (AEDT).
The team has been stewing over the 60-6 loss to England in the opening game of the tournament.
But Suaalii sees it as a blessing in disguise.
“We came in with a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure after putting together a great team,” he said.
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Radley happy with decision to rep Eng | 03:02
“We didn’t really train that much together. It was kind of like rock up and hope for the best. Obviously England played their hearts out and played a good game.
“But we weren’t there on that day. I think that is probably the best thing that happened to us — that loss … (it) humbled us and gave us the platform to go and play against Greece, France and Tonga.
“We said after that game we wanted to avenge what that England team did to us. So on Saturday it will be.”
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