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NZRL high performance director Tony Kemp has likened Eddie Paea's call-up to the Kiwis to Isaia Toeava's shock selection for the All Blacks in 2005.
Like Paea, Toeava was 19 and with only eight NPC appearances under his belt when he was selected for the All Blacks tour of Britain two years ago. But the All Black coaches touted the centre as someone with a big future in rugby union.
Likewise, Paea is held in such high regard in Australia that many see him as a potential star of the NRL.
He made his NRL debut for Souths in the final game of the 2006 season and added another three in 2007, scoring two tries.
Kemp said his selection was very much with an eye on next year's World Cup and the 2009 Tri Nations.
With a lack of a commanding half in the present squad, even though four are on the tour of Great Britain and France, Paea has been brought in along with young Penrith hooker Masada Iosefa to blood them into the Kiwis system.
"We see Eddie in a similar light to the way the All Blacks looked at Toeava," said Kemp, who is also a Kiwis selector. "They saw the potential in him and took him on tour and you can see the way he has developed since.
"We had a chat with him and told him that it's really important to get close to the team and understand what the Kiwis was all about."
Australia would have fancied their chances of Paea pulling on the green and gold.
He played halfback for the New South Wales under-19s in the State of Origin curtainraiser in mid-season and was initially selected for the Junior Kangaroos. However, he not only opted for New Zealand but also captained the Junior Kiwis to a thrilling 24-22 win over their Australian counterparts before the centenary test in Wellington three weeks ago.
"There are no problems with his patriotism," Kemp said. "He's a proud Kiwi and was speechless when we told him he had been called up.
"I spent a week with him when the Junior Kiwis met to see where his football sense was," Kemp said. "I equate it with the first time I saw Stacey Jones. He had a certain aura and maturity and it's obvious he's going to go a long way in the game.
"He showed in the Junior Kiwis game that he's going to be a serious contender for next year's World Cup. He's well aware that we are looking at his development leading into the World Cup so the opportunity to include him now in a tour situation is not to be missed. If he puts himself in line to get into the test team, then that's a bonus."
The selectors had been considering adding Paea to the squad since the 58-0 thrashing in Wellington but made the final decision last week.
He is seen as a future leader of both club and country and is also an accomplished goalkicker, landing the match-winning penalty against the Junior Kangaroos.
Coach Gary Kemble said he didn't expect Paea or Iosefa, who were due to join the squad overnight, to play in either of the remaining two tests but it would depend on form and injuries.
He also said Souths hooker Isaac Luke would be called into the squad if either Dene Halatau or David Faiumu were invalided out of the tour.
