Manly’s Tolutau Koula is set to announce himself to the NRL world on Friday after the utility was picked for the club’s trial game against the Tigers.
The 19-year-old is yet to play an NRL game but talk has surrounded the speedster since he set the fastest time for the 100m sprint in GPS history, running a 10.58 second dash at Sydney Olympic Park as a 17-year-old in 2019.
Koula is a centre that can play on the wing or at fullback, and he was recently elevated to the club’s top 30 squad this off-season.
With the Sea Eagles already possessing perhaps the NRL’s fastest winger in Jason Saab, SEN host Andrew Voss salivated at the prospect of the lightning duo linking up on the outside.
“The GPS record go back with the private school system over one hundred years,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“As I understand, he holds the (100m) sprint record, 10.58 seconds, that’s ridiculous as a 17-year-old.
“I was at the Roosters yesterday, filming for Fox League’s The Fan and I was sitting down with young (Joseph) Suaalii who impresses me enormously.
“He’s a very good mate of Koula, he played with him as young as the under 11s and against him through the GPS system.
“He said, ‘No, he (Koula) is definitely the fastest, Saab may be quick, but Koula is the fastest’.
“If you asked Saab though, he’d say, ‘No, I’m the quickest’, he’s got that about him.
“It’s fantastic for Manly, get excited, it could be one of the great wing combinations.
“One on one wing on one the other, my goodness.”
While he’s yet to appear at NRL level, The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio says rival clubs are already aware of his massive potential, with the Warriors even attempting to lure him across last season.
“I can tell you last year that the Warriors offers Kolo Toula a three-year deal worth $1.3 million,” Riccio said.
“He hadn’t played of first-grade rugby league, he hadn't played a game of NRL.”
The Sea Eagles and Tigers will meet at Leichhardt Oval on Friday for their trial match, kick-off is set for 8pm.
Koula promises to be a contender for this year's MEGT Rookie of the Year
