JUST weeks after completing his HSC exams, Newcastle Knights rookie Josh Ailaomai is preparing for the ultimate test in rugby league's school of hard knocks.
And if Knights insiders are any judge, it may not be long before the young Kiwi giant has established himself at the top of the class.
The 18-year-old giant from Lower Hutt, Wellington, has been added to Newcastle's full-time training squad and hopes to make his NRL debut next season.
At 114 kilograms and 183 centimetres, Ailaomai is an imposing physical specimen who joined Newcastle two years ago after being spotted playing for New Zealand under-16s.
After a year in under-18s, he progressed to under-20s last season and has been fast-tracked into Newcastle's senior squad for the 2010 pre-season campaign.
Having spent most of his 20 National Youth Competition games this year playing prop, Ailaomai switched to the back row towards the end of the season with devastating effect.
Knights coach Rick Stone believes Ailaomai has the size, speed and skills to prove a handful for NRL defenders in a wide-running role.
"I think you'll probably find Josh's best chance of playing in the NRL might be in the back row, playing on the edge," Stone said.
"He's probably more mobile and agile and quicker than the average bloke his size.
"I think that way we'll probably be able to ease him into it with the workload.
"We'll do it a bit of work there with Josh on the edge and hopefully give him an opportunity."
Ailaomai trained occasionally with Newcastle's full-timers last season and Stone felt he was ready to take the next step.
"This year he's going to go the whole hog and we'll see where he ends up," Stone said.
"Sometimes blokes like that jump out of the ground and surprise everyone.
"He's got the size and athleticism to compete.
"How he handles the higher intensity and quicker pace, only time will tell . . . but he's quite an intelligent kid and he's got a big future, there's no doubt about that."
Having spent his first two years in Newcastle lodging with the parents of former Knight Tim Natusch, Ailaomai recently moved into a house with some friends.
Ailaomai said he had no regrets about leaving home at 16 to chase his NRL dream.
"Sometimes when I think about it, I get homesick, but it was a good move," he said.
"I haven't been home all this year, but hopefully I'll go home during our Christmas break."
He admitted he was "a bit shocked" to be training with Newcastle's top squad so soon in his career but hopes to be blooded in the NRL at some stage next year
"That's the goal," he said.
"I don't really mind where I play, as long as I'm on the field."
Newcastle's other under-20 graduates training with the full-time squad are Peter Mata'utia, Zane Tetavano, Kevin Naiqama and Byron Fruean.
"All the boys that are still eligible for under 20s and training full-time, I think that's the first step towards getting an NRL chance," Stone said.
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