Alex Leapai Jnr could be the heavyweight boxing champion of the world but wants to be the next Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
His trainer has watched the 120kg marvel comfortably go toe-to-toe with hardened Australian professional heavyweights and thinks it's "madness", given his genetics and obvious potential.
But Leapai, whose 17th birthday was on Saturday, spoke to AAP with conviction about his choice - even with father Alex Snr looming large in the corner of the gym.
The same gym he called home on the way to a heavyweight world title shot in 2014 under trainer Noel Thornberry.
"There's no fear; I could take on Paul Gallen, I'd fight him," Leapai Jnr told AAP from Thornberry's shed in Gatton, about an hour inland of Brisbane.
"I know I could take it a bit further, but I want to make a career out of the NRL.
"I want to become another Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the next enforcer at the Sydney Roosters."
Even if he could be the heavyweight world champion of the world instead?
"Yep. The NRL's not only my dream, it was also my dad's before he did boxing. To fulfil both dreams would be a story to tell."
Leapai has signed with the Roosters, flying south weekly this year to play for their under-16 team.
The "mummy's boy", who eats a giant box of Weet-Bix in two days according to his dad, will likely to move permanently to Sydney "once he is ready" in 2024.
But he will continue to fight in the meantime, set to turn professional once he is 18 and already fending off interest from boxing promoters.
"Against these pros he doesn't even flinch; gets in the ring and you see it, just the power," the proud father told AAP.
"I'll try to keep it going with this guy, he's got so much potential in this game.
"But he's also good at football and I want him to do what he wants because I've had my time.
"I reached the top of the mountain ... didn't conquer it, but tell me how many Australians have been there?"
Indeed, Leapai ended a 106-year wait for the next Australian heavyweight world title contender.
So rare are legitimate Australian heavyweight hopes that Thornberry can't understand his charge's logic.
"A world heavyweight championship as opposed to playing in the NRL," he queried.
"Honestly, it'd be madness to squander this opportunity.
"League's great, but I honestly believe he can do it, the potential is just enormous."
