KEY POINTS:
Six seconds into his first playoffs match last weekend, Sam Rapira experienced what finals football is all about.
He lay on the ground dazed after being thumped in a tackle by Nathan Cayless when taking the first hit-up of the game against the Eels.
But he recovered to put in another strong performance in the 12-10 defeat, running for 106m and making 32 tackles.
"I'm glad it happened," Rapira said. "It shook me up but it got me into the game. It's going to help me with this weekend and I now know to expect anything."
There are great expectations surrounding the 20-year-old prop who has already made his international debut. With Steve Price and Ruben Wiki on the wrong side of 30, Rapira is being groomed as a successor.
Rapira is a first-grader in his own right but he has the potential to be much more. He's played in all 25 Warriors games this season and has started the last nine, which has seen Wiki shift to the second row.
"He has the potential to be one of the best props in the NRL," Wiki said. "I can see him being a future Kiwis and Warriors captain. He's like me, actions speak louder than words."
Rapira is trying to soak up as much from Price and Wiki as he can and often rooms with one of the two.
"They've taught me everything," he said. "I've analysed them and watched how they play and how they do things off the field. It was weird being around them at the start after watching them on television and then being mates with them. But they are just really good people."
Rapira has the physical attributes to follow in the footsteps of Price and Wiki. He's tall (1.84m), athletic and confrontational.
The Warriors certainly see a lot of potential and he was recently named the club's Young Player of the Year. He was also rewarded last month with one of the longest contracts in the NRL that will keep him at the club until the end of 2012.
"It's just the way everything is going at the moment," Rapira said. "I can't see myself going overseas, so it was an easy decision."
His immediate sights, though, are on the Cowboys this afternoon. The Warriors have the chance to dominate up front against a weakened and inexperienced pack and leading the charge will be a couple of old campaigners and their young apprentice. It might not happen inside six seconds but they will be hoping to make a significant impact.
