It was more than Tolutau Koula's blinding speed that gave Des Hasler the confidence the teenage rookie could fill the NRL's biggest boots at Manly.
Koula will step into arguably the game's most daunting role on Thursday night against Newcastle, starting his month-long job of wearing Tom Trbojevic's No.1 jersey.
Manly's record without Trbojevic is well known, winning just 33 per cent of games in his absence since 2019.
When Trbojevic is on the field, Manly win 75 per cent of the time.
But in 19-year-old Koula, the Sea Eagles believe they have a man who can provide genuine X-factor from the back after making his starting debut at centre last week.
"He's just got talent and the ability," Hasler said.
"And there's just that points or something that can happen around him.
"He's got all the requirements to be able to create options, to be able to create points and fast play-the-balls and linebreaks.
"He's got all those athletic requirements, but his footy IQ has really improved as well and he has worked hard at it. He's worked hard at his game."
Hasler's backing came as Manly confirmed Daly Cherry-Evans' two-year extension at the club, keeping him there until the end of 2025.
But while Cherry-Evans' kicking will be crucial Thursday, all eyes will be on Koula.
A noted speedster with the pedigree and the times to be the fastest man in the NRL, the Newington College product played both fullback and centre growing up.
He wore the No.1 jersey in Manly's under-16s Harold Matthews Cup premiership-winning side in 2018, and was groomed as a back-up for Trbojevic while filling in at fullback during the pre-season.
"I played a bit of both growing up," Koula told AAP.
"I trained a bit at fullback during the pre-season just as an extra number. I learned a lot off Tommy just being able to pick his brain at training.
"Tom is the best player in the world. Hopefully I get to half his level."
The son of two three-time Olympians, Manly can thank the Sydney Olympics for gifting them a natural talent.
His parents Tolutau and Anna both competed for Tonga in athletics at Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney.
So impressed by Sydney in 2000, they decided to move across the Pacific Ocean.
By the time Tolutau Jr was born in 2002, his father was a Manly fan after setting up their family in Mascot.
The teenager's own sprinting ability is well known, setting the AAGPS record with a 100-metre time of 10.58 seconds as a 17-year-old.
But it was one of the last occasions he ran competitively, instead putting his focus on both rugby and league before taking up a spot in Manly's full-time squad last year.
"It's pretty special to have parents who have done that, they really helped me along with my career," Koula said.
"I really enjoyed competing at track and field from a young age, but the older I got and around high school I realised I wasn't too passionate about it.
"I just found myself more passionate about playing rugby and I really enjoyed my footy."
