Paulo, who turns 22 on Sunday, signed a deal with Souths on a Tuesday night, drove to Sydney on the Thursday, then played for Souths in a NSW Cup game on the Saturday.

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After playing in the NRL the second half of last season – he was presented his debut jersey by club legend Sam Burgess – Paulo started this season in reserve grade. All he can remember of the first game was being kneed in the head by Penrith’s Brent Naden. Naden was sin-binned while Paulo received eight stitches to a nasty cut.

“Brent Naden came flying over with his knees,” Paulo said. “It was unnecessary. I was bandaged up, played NRL the following week and went head first into [Manly’s] Dylan Walker. I didn’t remember much of that night at all. When I did finally return against Canberra, I did my wrist.

“Every time I was out, ‘Sauce’ [Josh Mansour] was ready to go, and when he was out I was ready. Taane Milne also did a great job when he had to.”

Paulo, who is yet to decide if he will commit to Queensland or New Zealand – or even Samoa – loved Marshall growing up, but was a bigger fan of Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston given his uncle, Paul Rauhihi, played against the Wests Tigers in the 2005 grand final.

He is relishing the match-up with Panthers pocket rocket Brian To’o, and praised the defensive efforts of Campbell Graham and Jaydn Su’A on his inside.

Coach Wayne Bennett has also showed tremendous faith to stick with him ahead of an experienced international like Mansour. Paulo cannot wait for Sunday. He would love to score. Maybe even moonwalk.

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