The man who gave grand final flyer Daniel Tupou his wings, certainly knew what he was looking for.
Sydney Roosters recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan discovered Israel Folau in his previous life at the Melbourne Storm, and understood the obvious benefits of finding the next best thing.
Tupou’s similarities to the cross-code superstar were impossible to ignore.
O’Sullivan was amazed the rangy, 195cm winger was unwanted by former club Parramatta, and seized his opportunity – bringing him to the Roosters.
If Folau is the king of aerial athleticism, then Tupou announced himself as the prince in the Roosters’ 26-18 triumph over Manly.
His first half leap over David Williams to score the Roosters’ opening try was spectacular.
But his jump to defuse a bomb with his side leading by just two inside the final 10 minutes was just as crucial.
Keeping in mind what Folau has achieved across three sports by age 24, O’Sullivan’s summation of Tupou’s freakish abilities is really paying him the ultimate compliment.
“He’s the second best,” he said.
“No one is going to get near Izzy. But he’s the second best.
“Every time I kept watching Daniel play (for the Eels) he was just awesome. He’s athletic and he oozes class.
“I kept wondering what Parramatta didn’t see and in the end I didn’t care!”
Tupou, 22, played NSW Cup for Newtown for the majority of last season, but got a chance to showcase his potential in the NRL and in just his second game bagged a hat-trick against Wests Tigers.
O’Sullivan recalls telling Tupou that he only had to believe in his ability to ensure he never played a reserve grade game again.
“We had a meeting with him with about five or six games to go last year and I remember telling him once the penny drops for him the only time he’s seeing Newtown is when he’s driving to his next million dollar house,” he said.
“He’s a star, and it’s just confidence. People believing in him, him believing in himself and two good off seasons under his belt.”
Tupou’s performances alongside 20-year-old Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on the opposite flank has been a standout for the Roosters.
“I think Toops, he played five games of under 20s and then couldn’t make it and Peter O’Sullivan picked him up,” said coach, Trent Robinson.
“You think he’ll be good but then he’ll have a trough during the year. He’ll play some good games and then he’ll fall away.
“It’s unbelievable how consistent two kids can be for such a tough position.”
Tupou is eligible for both Australian and Tongan selection.