Pouesi and Taloaina Paleaaesina were the proudest parents at Ericsson Stadium last night when their eldest son, Iafeta, made his NRL debut out of nowhere.
The 19-year-old from Otahuhu had been on the Warriors' development programme all season, but his huge talent and ability, combined with the Warriors' problems with injury
and suspension, meant he got an earlier than expected start.
His mum said Iafeta had not said much, but had been smiling all week.
He was called into the training squad on Monday as a standby and not told until Thursday that he would probably play because Jason Temu had gone down with the flu.
He takes slightly outside 5s to hurl his 112kg over the 40m sprint league players are measured by - faster than all but the fastest forwards, and not far outside a back's time.
His Samoan parents met and married in Auckland. Paleaaesina started league at the age of eight at Otahuhu, moved to Papatoetoe when he was 12, and was in Auckland representative sides from 13 to 18.
He has worked as a scaffolder since leaving Penrose High, and went to the Hibiscus Coast Raiders this season as a first step into the national Bartercard Cup competition. He played all 10 games and scored eight tries.
Raiders coach Brian McClennan describes him as "explosive - he's very strong, and with his speed, he's great.
"He's raw, but he'll go a long way."
Warriors coach Daniel Anderson admitted he could not spell Paleaaesina correctly and could not pronounce it properly, and that the prop's debut had been brought forward out of necessity. But he was sure the teen's skill and ability would have the surname rolling off tongues in no time.
"I'm so proud of him," his mum said last night, willing that he would not drop the ball.
