KEY POINTS:
Chase Stanley's manager, Lance Thompson, is staggered no one from the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) has been on the phone. It shouldn't be too much longer.
In a few weeks, the 17-year-old schoolboy has gone from promising footballer to first-grade regular at injury-hit St George-Illawarra, racking up four tries in just five matches. "If the Kiwis want to get a talent like that, they'd better think about picking him up quickly," Thompson said.
His parents Paul Stanley, from Auckland, and Michele, from Taihape, met after emigrating to start new lives in Sydney.
They still pinch themselves at the deeds of young Chase, second-eldest of their six children and one of five boys.
A centre, he weighs 95kg and runs like the wind - and he is still growing. His uncle, who he's yet to meet, is former All Blacks centre Joe Stanley. His mother's grand-uncles Rangi and Tommy Chase played four Kiwis tests between them in the 1930s.
The Stanleys' eldest child, Kyrsty, 20, was an Australian age-grade karate champion. All five boys are footballing naturals, says Thompson, the Cronulla Sharks hardman and close family friend who coached Chase at 10. "They've all got ability, every single one of them. They grew up just belting each other in the backyard," Thompson said.
"Kyle, 16, is going to be even better than Chase, they reckon."
Kyle, Jamie, 14, Mutu-Heremaia, 9, and Reremoana-Kahui, 7, all play for Chase's junior club, Hurstville United in Sydney's west - and a painting by Michele's brother of the five sons in their club colours takes pride of place in the family living room.
But life wasn't always so rosy. Ten years ago, Paul was at death's door after falling two storeys at a building site where he worked. Lying on the concrete, with a ruptured liver and no feeling in his legs, Stanley senior refused to accept his injuries.
"I crawled into the car and tried to drive home. I knew I had a big family to support."
He began coughing up blood, and Michele, pregnant with her fifth child, was told he might not survive. "It was stressful. All the money stopped but we had huge support from everyone," she said. Paul recovered but suffered compressed fractures of his spinal column and hasn't worked since.
He's on painkillers and barely leaves the house, so he can't attend his son's NRL matches. Chase's rush to the NRL top flight with the Dragons, after just one Premier League match, has clearly been a tonic.
"Everything's moved so fast and we're so thankful. He knows hard work got him there, and it will keep him there," his father said.
They are trying to shield quietly-spoken Chase from media attention. In a rare interview he told the Sydney Morning Herald his father's accident made him grow up fast. "It was pretty scary. Dad talked to us, told us to be strong."
Stanley was meant to play for New South Wales Under-19 in the State of Origin curtain-raiser but opted out with a thumb injury, which leaves him doubtful for tonight's NRL match against Canberra.
His parents freely discuss an incident a year ago when Chase was one of five NSW under-17s sent home by officials for shoplifting at Sydney Airport as a prank. "We were really crushed," Michele said. "To his credit, he bounced back. We just about fell over when he got selected for the Dragons - after one trial game."
They say it would be "an honour" for him to don the Kiwis jersey - but they'll leave the decision to their son, if he's approached. They insist test selection's a long way off - but they also thought the NRL was a distant dream a few months back.
- NZPA
