EXCLUSIVE: Sonny Bill's advice for Joseph Suaalii as Wallabies hype builds

There is probably no-one on the planet who knows what Joseph Suaalii is about to experience better than Sonny Bill Williams.

The high profile pair have only met a couple of times but have a lot in common.

Both proud Samoan men grew up in humble surroundings and became highly sought-after schoolboy sensations by virtue of their athletic prowess.

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Softly spoken and respectful by nature, they both burst onto the NRL stage at an incredibly young age - Suaalii at 17 and Williams at 18.

Both excelled at the Sydney Roosters after being taken under the wing of star-makers Trent Robinson and Nick Politis.

Both have been sensationally red carded on enormous stages - Williams against the British and Irish Lions and Suaalii in State of Origin.

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And both accepted rugby riches to test themselves in the rival code.

For Williams, that journey resulted in two Rugby World Cup titles with the All Blacks and an appearance at the 2016 Olympic Games, cementing his legacy as one of the supreme sportsmen of the 21st century.

It didn't come easy though, despite his natural talents, and the circus surrounding his Bulldogs exit in 2008 could have broken lesser men.

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And Suaalii is now facing the same spotlight and scrutiny as he gets to work in providing Rugby Australia bang for buck on a monster contract that has split opinion and provoked fierce debate.

"I've walked that exact same path," Stan Sport expert Williams tells Wide World of Sports while corralling his children at a Sydney beach.

"A lot of hype, a lot of scrutiny and rightly so. It's great to see a young Pacific Islander getting paid well, because there's not enough of them, I believe.

"It's going to take a bit of time but he's a great player bro. I'm going be glued to the TV and look forward to watching his journey.

"I've met him a couple of times. He's a good young man, level headed, very respectful and he's got a pretty good education behind him too.

"He's got some good people around him and I'm an open book if he ever wants to have a yarn."

So, what advice does Williams have for Suaalii, who is set to join his first Wallabies training squad in Canberra on Monday?

"From what I've seen it looks like he's got it all under control," said Williams, who won two NRL titles and played 58 rugby Tests for New Zealand.

"The best advice is simple and logical. Just take your time, shut out outside noise and go about your business.

"Train hard, work hard, be the first in the gym, put your hand up to learn and to do extras. My understanding is that he will do all of that.

"In league, you've got a lot more time than you do in union so that will be one of the biggest adjustments for the brother."

Williams ranks as one of the most successful league to rugby converts ever, in the conversation with Brad Thorn, Jason Robinson, Israel Folau, Lote Tuqiri, Semi Radradra, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers and Marika Koroibete.

But Suaalii's former coach, Matt Parish, told Wide World of Sports that the 21-year-old would surpass all of them and become "the greatest league convert to union."

That's all to play out but Williams is an admirer of Suaalii for his fearless physicality.

"He's big and strong and doesn't shy away from the physical contact," he said.

"That's what I enjoy most. Yeah, he gets it wrong sometimes - as we all have. But Australian rugby needs that physicality right now."

Williams was a second rower in league but exclusively a back in rugby.

The All Blacks started off using him at outside centre and on the wing before he found his sweet spot in the No.12 jersey.

Williams agrees Suaalii could play anywhere from 12-15.

"He's an athlete and great under the high ball so wing or fullback is an option. He has a background in rugby and played NRL in the backs so he may find it easier than me," he said.

"I started with the Bulldogs in the early 2000s and it was 'Dogs of War.' Bite down on the gumshield, grit your teeth, run it hard, smash that bloke.

"It was old school, it was physical attrition. Then I went to the 15-man game and it was like 'what are the pictures they're showing us here, with the space? How can we manoeuvre and get through these guys without contact?'

"I'm sitting there thinking 'I just want to smash that bloke!' So that was a challenge for me.

"It was the mindset shift of looking at the whole field instead of just straight through the teeth. I grew as a player because I had to go through that initiation - chucked in the deep end from a mental point of view.

"How can I benefit the team, bring everyone together and be the midfield glue?

"I don't think Joseph will have that problem because he grew up playing the game and he's a natural finisher."

Williams believed Suaalii's skillset would set him up to have similar Wallabies success to that of Tuqiri and Sailor.

"But when you start chucking people in midfield or as the playmaker - look at Sam Burgess, Benji Marshall - it's a different ball game."

Suaalii is expected to tour Europe next month but it remains to be seen whether he will spend his time solely with the Wallabies or get game time with an Australia XV side that will take on the Bristol Bears and England A.

"Easing him in? Bro, I think he's good enough to just be chucked straight in the deep end. He will find his way, he's a good enough player," Williams said.

"He's the highest paid player in Australian rugby so get him over there. The Lions are coming next year. I played for the All Blacks with no Super Rugby experience. So it's doable."

Joe Schmidt will name his Wallabies squad later this month for a daunting Grand Slam schedule against England (November 10 AEDT), Wales (November 18 AEDT), Scotland (November 25 AEDT) and Ireland (December 1 AEDT).

"Some traditionalists may say he has to earn the right to do this and that. But let's be honest, the Wallabies aren't exactly producing at the moment," Williams argues.

Williams had the advantage of playing in an All Blacks team regarded as one of rugby's best ever, with Richie McCaw and Dan Carter leading the way.

The Wallabies, meanwhile, are ranked 10th in the world and just finished last in the Rugby Championship.

Asking Suaalii to save the day alone is unfair.

"There's going to be a lot of scrutiny but he's a good young man and I believe he'll be successful," Williams said.

"It may take a bit of time but he will be. He can't fly under the radar. The pressure is part and parcel of the game and I think he understands that.

"We're in a high performance space and we all get questioned - whether it's right or wrong. I wish Joseph all the best and believe he will flourish."