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Parramatta playmaker Mitch Moses, who made his own NRL debut as a teenager for Wests Tigers, believes 16-year-old sensation Joseph Suaalii is also ready.
Having made his own NRL debut as a teenager, Mitch Moses is convinced the league should rewrite the rules to keep 16-year-old "freak" Joseph Suaalii in the code.
ARLC chairman Peter V'landys is looking to grant South Sydney a special exemption to allow Suaalii, who only turns 17 on Saturday, to play first-grade for the Rabbitohs next season.
For the past decade players have been outlawed from starting their NRL careers before their 18th birthday and Phil Gould for one is adamant the rule protecting youngsters must remain.
"I wouldn't like them to make an exception here. I don't think it's a good rule to change. I really don't," Gould told Nine's 100% Footy.
"I think that's contrary to what we're trying to do in managing the expectations, the money for our development players and just where they go to.
"I know he's an exceptional kid at that age but other kids catch up pretty quickly.
But many, including V'landys, believe throwing Suaalii - weighing in at 96kg and standing .196cm tall, in the NRL isn't a case of a boy against men.
Moses, too, has no concerns about Suaalii handling himself, having seen the sporting super talent first-hand last year.
Suaalii was turning out for the King's School's First XV against Moses' cousin's team Joeys.
"That kid's a freak," Moses said on Tuesday, having himself debuted at 19 for Wests Tigers in 2014.
"I think he'd probably be ready to play pretty soon.
"This kid's a bit different, to be honest, so I think he'd be ready to play next year.
"If he's got the right people around him to look after him and obviously if the club looks after him very well, with all his loads and things like that, he should be fine.
"But every case will be different with how they monitor it."
Rugby Australia had been confident of luring Suaalii to the NSW Waratahs, trying to entice him with a reported $3 million, three-year offer and the chance to represent Australia at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
But South Sydney's co-owner and Hollywood heavyweight Russell Crowe is said to have won Suaalii over.