Tupou, for all that he's said to be a level-headed young man, has become a household name, internet sensation and reportedly decided to sign with the Reds ahead of at least eight other offers and after Quade Cooper made a personal appeal.
How could Tupou not carry heightened expectations after that? And what about the Reds? They won their big prize, probably had to pay a bit more than they would have liked for it and might be in a rush to see their investment provide some kind of return.
The situation has disaster written all over it and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Tupou thrust into Super Rugby action long before he's ready and almost mentally destroyed by the ordeal. Nor would it be a surprise to see him head to Europe in his early 20s to start afresh.
This is a relatively common scenario these days. Young players have an idea they are worth more than they really are and those who agree to pay it throw the usual development plan out the window.
Both parties are suddenly in a hurry and it's rare for either to benefit from that. When someone not quite ready is thrown into a sink-or-swim situation, they sink more often than not.
Manawatu's chief executive John Knowles has first-hand experience of the marketplace.
His region, largely through Palmerston North Boys' High School and Feilding High School, produces a significant number of good, young players but the union don't have either the money or inclination to compete financially.
"Some of this starts with the secondary schools," he says, "where there is a focus on Top 8 and Top 4 competitions rather than being localised. We see schools quite prepared to take kids from one end of the country to the other. Even recently we have seen five boys lost from the local Maori school here to St Kentigern College in Auckland, all on full scholarships.
"The follow-on is that we are seeing players at a younger age having an idea they are worth more than they are. Last week, we have offered a schoolboy a full ITM Cup contract for the first time. I was hugely reluctant to do it but our coach, Jason O'Halloran, felt the player in question could play a role next year. We wanted to offer him a development contract but he and his agent indicated we would be miles away if we did that."
The question is, what happens to those players pushed too early who don't then deliver? The answer is they are more likely to head offshore at an earlier age.
Young players don't all expect more money but they want opportunity and want it quickly.
"I have noticed players want to progress quickly," says Bay of Plenty chief executive Mike Rogers. "They want to be progressing along that career pathway immediately and, if they feel their pathway is blocked, they will look elsewhere.
"A big part of our role is trying to persuade them that it might take longer than they anticipate, that hard work and persistence can pay off."
Whereas maybe five years ago players would wait to their mid-20s to see if they could crack Super Rugby, it seems more are heading away in their early 20s now.
