New Penrith prodigy being likened to Spencer Leniu
It took one training session with Penrith's top squad for powerhouse prop Luron Patea to knock back a Japanese rugby deal and pursue a contract in the NRL.
Patea has emerged as Penrith's next big thing in the past month, with the 20-year-old providing the Panthers much needed power and impact off the bench.
The Panthers junior has already been compared to Spencer Leniu, after announcing himself as a genuine talent with a barnstorming performance in Magic Round.
But while he has been a breakout star in the NRL for the past month, Patea's talent has been known on the global stage for some time.
The son of a rugby union coach who also played overseas, Patea played both codes as a teen and represented Australian schoolboys in the 15-man game in 2022.
He also had an offer to move to a top-tier Japanese rugby club in 2023, which would have brought with it his first professional contract.
But the front-rower instead opted to stick with Penrith, taking a punt on trying to crack into a squad that had already won two straight premierships.
"There was nothing really promised of training full time," Patea told AAP.
"I had the opportunity to go to Japan and play rugby overseas. But I spoke to my manager and family and decided I wanted to try and stick with rugby league.
"It was just go in and try and play my best footy and try and get that opportunity. And fortunately I did after that year.
"Now when I get the chance to sit back after games, I think about doing my family proud.
"But I'm also proud of myself for making the decision to stay and backing it."
Patea said his main motivation had come from training one day with Penrith's squad in 2022, as part of their Pearls program.
There, the top picks of talent from U19s and U17s experience a full day training with the NRL squad, and are handed the same kit and schedule as full-time players.
"I spent that day with Moses (Leota) and Spencer," Patea said.
"Talking to them, they were telling me about the club and how they came through. I wanted to experience that for myself.
"It made me just want to stay."
More of a rugby union watcher growing up, Leota and Leniu are now the men Patea look up to for their work ethic and aggression respectively.
It's also the kind of player the Panthers need right now, after losing Leniu and his bench impact after 2023.
"I hear a lot of people say I am like another, Spencer," Patea said.
"That's a good thing for me. Spencer's obviously a really good player and what he did for the club when he was here, I want to do as well.
"There are similarities in the way we run ... But I'm just trying to build confidence to play my game and not be compared to anyone else."
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