Flashes of Feauai-Sautia in Petaia: Kerevi

Thu, Apr 5, 2018, 6:40 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
Jordan Petaia has a chance this weekend of becoming Queensland's youngest ever Super Rugby player if he takes the field against the Brumbies this weekend. Kerevi has been impressed by the youngster who he likened to fellow Red, Chris Feauai-Sautia.

There are flashes of Reds star Chris Feauai-Sautia in young gun Jordan Petaia, according to Samu Kerevi.

Petaia has been named for a potential Super Rugby debut on Saturday and if he does take to the field, he will become Queensland's youngest ever Super Rugby player at 18 years and 24 days.

It is an incredible rise to the Super Rugby ranks and in many ways, mirrors the trajectory of Feauai-Sautia after he graduated from school at the end of 2011.

Kerevi, Feauai-Sautia and Petaia are all products of Brisbane State High but that's not where the similarities end, in the eyes of Kerevi.

"He kind of reminded me of Chris Feauai-Sautia when I was first at school with him," Kerevi said.

"Now they're about to run out together.Chris Feauai-Sautia is similar in style to Jordan Petaia, according to Samu Kerevi. Photo: Getty Images"That speed is what really got me in the couple of times that I've trained with him.

"He's still pretty strong for a young kid and he uses his feet well.

"He's got that explosive speed to take off and really get going.

"Hopefully he goes really well."

Kerevi said Petaia had similar characteristics to the other young guns blooded by Thorn to date - the head down, bum up culture coming to the fore.

"He's his own man and the way that he's been training - he's training really well," Kerevi said.

"He's trained really well throughout the preseason, he has great feet on him and he's a State High boy so I'm always going to love seeing that happen.Kerevi and the Reds nearly pulled off a big upset against the Stormers. Photo: Getty Images"He puts his best foot forward for the team and he's a really humble kid.

"He puts his head down and he works hard, along with all the other boys Brad has brought into the group.

"It's pleasing that he gets his opportunity this weekend - that's the really exciting part for me."

Kerevi will wear the No. 12 against ACT having started at outside centre in the loss to the Stormers.

It's a role he is growing more comfortable with, though he admits his distribution with ball in hand still needs work.

"Playing at 12 again with Chris at 13 I'm just going to put my best hand up, especially with that go forward ball," he said.

"For me, it's a big job to be able to do the same thing that I do at 13 and distribute a bit, from my part at 12.

"But I've got guys like Aidan and Jono that are helping me with that as well."

The Reds take on the Brumbies at GIO Stadium on Saturday, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and RUGBY.com.au radio.

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