Rugby league legend Peter Sterling says Eels enforcer Junior Paulo has taken the tag of "best prop in the game" following his stellar start to the 2021 season.
Through Parrmatta's two games this season, Paulo is averaging 116 run metres, 83 of which are post-contact, while emerging as arguably the game's biggest one-on-one threat close to the try line.
Having scored in each of Parramatta's two games, the 27-year-old wrecking ball has sent a fresh reminder to NRL fans as to why he was on the top of NSW coach Brad Fittler's list when it came to forward stocks for last year's Origin squad.
With Eels hooker Reed Mahoney starring as well and becoming the main link man to Paulo, Sterling says the Eels have unlocked the prop's potential to be an unstoppable force at the try line.
"He doesn't score a lot of tries Junior, but he's got two in two weeks," Sterling told Wide World of Sports' Sterlo's Wrap.
"Nice vision from Reed Mahoney to get out and see what defender he wants to put Paulo up against.
"Junior Paulo that close to the line, especially in between defenders, is always going to be hard to stop.
"We know he's a great defender, always has been, his completion rate is very high and he's always involved in the game.
"That's a play they're going to look at – any time you can get Junior Paulo one-on-one, or in between defenders, he's going to be incredibly hard to stop."
Paulo is one of several names deserving of inclusion in the 'best props in the game' conversation alongside Josh Papalii, Payne Haas and Daniel Saifiti, yet Sterling feels the Eels enforcer tops the lot.
"I think he's the best prop in the game," he added.
"I know Josh Papalii from Canberra sets a real standard. Paulo's up there with the very best of them."
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