Jaydn Su'A
{{Short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name = Jaydn Su'A
| fullname = Jaydn Su'A
| image = Jaydn Su'a.jpg
| imagesize =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|10|23|df=y}}
| birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand{{Cite news |title=Brisbane could lose promising backrower Jaydn Su'a |work=The Courier-Mail |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/teams/broncos/lure-of-a-permanent-starting-spot-could-prise-jaydn-sua-away-from-brisbane/news-story/57fdd992e46d0b32b385cd95de3d48ca |url-access=subscription |access-date=2018-06-11}}
| height = {{convert|188|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| position = {{rlp|SR}}
| club1 = Brisbane Broncos
| year1start = 2016
| year1end = 19
| appearances1 = 31
| tries1 = 1
| points1 = 4
| goals1 = 0
| fieldgoals1 = 0
| club2 = South Sydney
| year2start = 2019
| year2end = 21
| appearances2 = 52
| tries2 = 7
| points2 = 28
| goals2 = 0
| fieldgoals2 = 0
| club3 = St. George Illawarra
| year3start = 2022
| year3end = present
| appearances3 = 64
| tries3 = 19
| goals3 = 0
| fieldgoals3 = 0
| points3 = 76
| teamA = Samoa
| yearAstart = 2019
| yearAend = 22
| appearancesA = 8
| triesA = 1
| goalsA = 0
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 4
| teamB = Queensland
| yearBstart = 2020
| yearBend = 24
| appearancesB = 5
| triesB = 0
| pointsB = 0
| goalsB = 0
| fieldgoalsB = 0
| retired =
| updated = 30 May 2025
}}
Jaydn Su'A (born 23 October 1997) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|sr}} forward for the St George Illawarra Dragons in the National Rugby League (NRL).
He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL, and at representative level for Queensland in the State of Origin series.
Background
Su'A was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is of Samoan descent and moved to Australia at the age of two.{{Cite web |last=Gabor |first=Martin |date=2016-05-09 |title=Picking Roos over Kiwis an easy choice: Su'a |url=http://www.nrl.com/picking-roos-over-kiwis-an-easy-choice-sua/tabid/10874/newsid/95696/default.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511142552/http://www.nrl.com/picking-roos-over-kiwis-an-easy-choice-sua/tabid/10874/newsid/95696/default.aspx |archive-date=2016-05-11 |access-date=2016-05-27 |website=National Rugby League}}
He attended Marsden State High School and later Anglican Church Grammar School, where he played for their rugby union team.{{cite web |url=https://www.titans.com.au/news/2022/04/06/school-boys-trial-game-to-be-played-before-titans-v-eels-match-this-saturday/ |title=Schoolboys trial game to be played before Titans v Eels match this Saturday |publisher=Titans |date=6 April 2022 |access-date=11 June 2022}} He played his junior rugby league for the Logan Brothers, before being signed by the Canberra Raiders at the age of 13. After two years on a scholarship with the Raiders, he signed with the Brisbane Broncos.{{Cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sport/how-our-queensland-state-of-origin-young-guns-got-their-start-in-the-nrl/news-story/c7bf10767741e3ffc813aac8291cff95|title=How Benny's Babes from the Queensland State of Origin squad got their start in the NRL|date=30 October 2020|website=The Courier Mail}}
Playing career
=Early career=
In 2012, Su'A played in the Souths Logan Magpies' Cyril Connell Cup and National Title winning sides as a 15-year-old.{{cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/logan/junior-kangaroos-man-of-the-match-jaydn-sua-to-make-brisbane-broncos-debut/news-story/120ccdde079ad99c89a5622ea2467043#load-story-comments|title=Junior Kangaroos Man of the Match Jaydn Su'a to make Brisbane Broncos debut|publisher=Couriermail.com.au|date=2016-05-24|access-date=2016-05-27}} In 2013, he represented the Queensland under-16 rugby league team.{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2013/04/30/queensland-under-16-team-for-june-match.html|title=Queensland Under 16 Team For June Match|publisher=QRL|access-date=2016-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803063538/http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2013/04/30/queensland-under-16-team-for-june-match.html|archive-date=3 August 2016|url-status=dead}} In 2015, he joined the Brisbane Broncos' NYC team.{{cite web|url=https://nycdatabase.org/players/s/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131072555/http://nycdatabase.org/players/s/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=31 January 2016|title=S|publisher=Nyc Database|access-date=2016-05-27}}{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2016/03/01/broncos_nyc_team_nam.html|title=NYC Team Named|publisher=Broncos|access-date=2016-05-27}} That year, he represented the Queensland under-18 rugby league team, scoring a try and being named Man of the Match.{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2015/06/02/queensland_under_18_.html|title=Queensland Under 18 team|publisher=QRL|access-date=2016-05-27}}
=2016=
On 7 May, Su'A represented the Junior Kangaroos and was named Man of the Match in their win over the Junior Kiwis.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/representative-round-team-lists/tabid/10874/newsid/95512/default.aspx|title=Updated: Representative Round team lists|publisher=NRL.com|access-date=2016-05-24|archive-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604182259/http://www.nrl.com/representative-round-team-lists/tabid/10874/newsid/95512/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nathan-cleary-and-jaydn-sua-stars-in-junior-kangaroos-win-over-junior-kiwis-20160507-goowez.html|title=Nathan Cleary and Jaydn Su'a star in Junior Kangaroos win over Junior Kiwis|publisher=Smh.com.au|date=2016-05-07|access-date=2016-05-27}} In Round 12 of the 2016 NRL season, he made his NRL debut for the Broncos against the Wests Tigers.{{cite web|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/logan/junior-kangaroos-man-of-the-match-jaydn-sua-to-make-brisbane-broncos-debut/news-story/120ccdde079ad99c89a5622ea2467043|title=Junior Kangaroos Man of the Match Jaydn Su'a to make Brisbane Broncos debut|publisher=Couriermail.com.au|date=2016-05-24|access-date=2016-05-27}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/updated-team-lists-broncos-v-wests-tigers/tabid/10874/newsid/96378/default.aspx|title=Updated team lists: Broncos v Wests Tigers|publisher=NRL.com|date=2016-02-28|access-date=2016-05-27}}{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.broncos.com.au/news/2016/05/27/su_a_start_sets_new_.html|title=Su'A Start Sets New Mark|publisher=Broncos|access-date=2016-05-27}} On 13 July, he captained the Queensland under-20 rugby league team.{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2016/07/07/cowboy_salam_earns_l.html|title=Cowboy Salam earns late call-up|publisher=QRL|access-date=2016-07-15}}{{cite web|author=NRL|url=http://www.qrl.com.au/news/2016/07/15/qld_u20s_jayden_su_a.html|title=QLD U20s: Jayden Su'A|publisher=QRL|access-date=2016-07-16}} In September, he was named at second-row in the 2016 NYC Team of the Year.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/2016-holden-cup-team-of-the-year-announced/tabid/10874/newsid/100970/default.aspx|title=2016 Holden Cup Team of the Year announced|publisher=NRL.com|date=2016-02-28|access-date=2016-09-05}} In September, he re-signed with the Broncos on a 2-year contract until the end of 2018.{{cite web|author=Broncos.com.au|url=http://www.zerotackle.com/broncos-re-sign-nrl-rookies-23767/|title=Broncos re-sign NRL rookies|publisher=Zero Tackle|date=2016-08-26|access-date=2016-09-15}}
=2017=
In the 2017 NRL season, Su'A was limited to only 4 first grade appearances for Brisbane and did not feature in the club's finals campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/your-nrl-clubs-2017-breakout-star/news-story/f34f5b7de73fc42916fb222672aec12d/|title=Your NRL club's 2017 breakout star|website=Cairns Post}}
=2018=
In the 2018 NRL season, Su'A made 15 appearances for Brisbane, but missed out on playing in the club's finals campaign due to injury.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/09/18/brisbane-broncos-2018-season-review/|title=Brisbane Broncos 2018 season review|website=NRL}}
=2019=
At the start of the 2019 NRL season, Su'A made 8 appearances for Brisbane as they lost 8 of their first 13 games which was one of the worst beginnings to a season in the club's history. On 28 June, Su'A signed a two-year contract to join South Sydney in a mid-season switch from Brisbane. Su'A made his debut for South Sydney against Manly-Warringah in Round 17 at ANZ Stadium which ended in a 21–20 victory.{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/2019/06/28/rabbitohs-sign-jaydn-sua-immediately-until-the-end-of-the-2021-season/|title=Rabbitohs sign Jaydn Su'A immediately until the end of the 2021 season|website=South Sydney Rabbitohs|date=28 June 2019}}
= 2020 =
Throughout the 2020 NRL season, Su'A made 21 appearances for South Sydney, establishing himself as one of the competition's most improved players. Su'A was selected in the Queensland rugby league team for the 2020 State of Origin series. He made his debut in Game One, playing a solid 48 minutes off the bench as Queensland upset New South Wales.
= 2021 =
In the 2021 NRL Season, Su'A reinforced the previous years success, playing an instrumental role that helped the Rabbitohs achieve a Top 4 finish. In Round 8, Su'a scored his first try of the season in a 34-20 point win over the Canberra Raiders. In Round 19, Su'A scored 2 tries against the New Zealand Warriors in a match that saw the Rabbitohs win 60–22.{{Cite web|title=Jaydn Su'a|url=https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/south-sydney-rabbitohs/jaydn-sua/|access-date=2021-09-14|website=South Sydney Rabbitohs|language=en}}
On 21 July, Su'A signed a three-year deal with St. George Illawarra.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-19|title=Dragons confirm Su'A signing|url=https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2021/07/20/dragons-confirm-sua-signing/|access-date=2021-09-14|website=St George Illawarra Dragons|language=en}}
Su'A played a total of 23 games for South Sydney in the 2021 NRL season, including the club's 2021 NRL Grand Final defeat against Penrith.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/oct/04/one-of-finest-nrl-grand-finals-of-all-time-provides-cure-to-difficult-season/|title=One of finest NRL grand finals of all time provides cure to difficult season|website=www.theguardian.com|date=3 October 2021}}
=2022=
In Round 1 of the 2022 NRL season, he made his club debut for St. George Illawarra in their 28-16 victory over the New Zealand Warriors. In Rounds 2 and 3, Su'A was sent to the sin bin in consecutive weeks for dangerous tackles.{{cite web|url=https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/sharks-vs-dragons-news-2022-jaydn-sua-sin-bin-tackle-dale-finucane-video/b461a564-da85-46cb-ac18-58e69ad2c4b3/|title=Dragons cry foul over 'questionable' sin bin that proved costly against Sharks|website=wwos.nine.com.au}}
Throughout 2022, Su'A played 18 games as St. George Illlawarra finished 10th, missing finals for fourth straight season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2022-st-george-illawarra-dragons-season-review/l821xem9o1l8u8ylavtd3ono/|title=NRL 2022: St George Illawarra Dragons season review|website=www.sportingnews.com}}
In October Su'A was named in the Samoa squad for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.[https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/rugby-league-world-cup-2021-squad-lists/ Full list of every squad at the Rugby League World Cup 2021]
Su'A played for Samoa in their 2021 Rugby League World Cup final loss to Australia.{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/australia-vs-samoa/58154/|title=Rugby League World Cup: James Tedesco stars to seal 12th triumph for Australia in 30-10 win over Samoa|website=www.skysports.com}}
=2023=
Su'A played a total of 13 games for St. George Illawarra in the 2023 NRL season as they finished 16th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2023-st-george-illawarra-dragons-end-of-season-review-brutal-review-rugby-league-news-ben-hunt-shane-flanagan/news-story/876c40f7fc8f8cf09cf2c720499f7db2/|title=Hunt call that could define Flanagan era; glaring hole that must be filled: Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
=2024=
Su’A was named in the second row for Queensland ahead of game one in the 2024 State of Origin series.{{cite web|url=https://www.qrl.com.au/news/2024/05/27/maroons-squad-named-for-origin-game-i/|title=Maroons squad named for Origin Game I|website=QRL|date=6 June 2024}}
In round 22 of the 2024 NRL season, Su'A scored two tries for St. George Illawarra in their 18-16 upset victory over Melbourne.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/08/03/dragons-snap-25-year-drought-to-climb-inside-the-eight/|title=Dragons snap 25-year drought to climb into top eight|website=www.nrl.com}}
He played a total of 22 games for St. George Illawarra in the 2024 NRL season and scored nine tries as the club finished 11th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/the-mole-st-george-illawarra-dragons-2024-what-went-wrong-season-review-20240910-p5k9kr.html/|title=The Mole's end-of-season review: 'Bullies' exposed as big-money Dragons forward called out|website=www.nine.com.au}}
=2025=
In round 9 of the 2025 NRL season, Su'A was involved in one of the biggest bombed tries of the year. St. George Illawarra were trailing the match against the Wests Tigers by ten points when Su'A appeared to score a try right before half-time. As Su'A went to place the ball over the line, it came off his knee and he lost it forwards. The Wests Tigers would then race away and score down the other end of the field. St. George Illawarra would end up losing the match by six points.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/havent-seen-anything-like-it-dragons-stars-barely-believable-blunder-stuns/news-story/cc5355be5482305525e8d123cd436c46/|title=‘Never seen anything like this’: Dragons star’s all-time try blunder stuns|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |
| 2016
| rowspan="3" |{{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} Brisbane Broncos |4 | | |
| 2017
|4 | | |
| 2018
|15 |1 |4 |
| rowspan="2" |2019
|{{leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} Brisbane Broncos |8 | | |
| {{leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs
|8 | | |
| 2020
| rowspan="2" |{{leagueicon|South Sydney|16}} South Sydney Rabbitohs |21 |2 |8 |
| 2021
|23 |5 |20 |
| 2022
| rowspan="4" |{{leagueicon|St. George|16}} St. George Illawarra Dragons |18 |5 |20 |
| 2023
|13 |4 |16 |
| 2024
|22 |9 |36 |
| 2025
|10 | | |
| |Totals
|144 |26 |104 |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/south-sydney-rabbitohs/jaydn-sua/ South Sydney Rabbitohs profile]
- [https://www.broncos.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/brisbane-broncos/jaydn-sua/ Brisbane Broncos profile]
- [https://www.nrl.com/players/rugby-league-world-cup/samoa/jaydn-sua/ Samoa profile]
{{St. George Illawarra Dragons squad}}
{{Samoa 2021 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{2016 National Youth Competition Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:SuA, Jaydn}}
Category:Australian rugby league players
Category:Australian sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:Samoa national rugby league team players
Category:Samoan rugby league players
Category:Brisbane Broncos players
Category:Junior Kangaroos players
Category:Rugby league second-rows
Category:Souths Logan Magpies players
Category:Rugby league players from Christchurch
Category:Rugby league players from Queensland
Category:New Zealand emigrants to Australia
Category:South Sydney Rabbitohs players
Category:Queensland Rugby League State of Origin players
Category:St. George Illawarra Dragons players