For every Israel Folau, perhaps there is a Kyle Stanley waiting in the wings, ready to compensate for Australian Rules' raid on National Rugby League (NRL) talent.
While the NRL continues to come to terms with Folau's multi-million dollar defection to the Australian Football League, 19-year-old Stanley offers proof that league's production line rolls on regardless.
A member of the prolific sporting family who last weekend added another All Black - Benson Stanley - to its list of international offspring, cousin Kyle is being groomed for greatness at the Dragons by legendary coach Wayne Bennett.
Two games into his first grade career - as a replacement for former Kangaroos centre Matt Cooper - Stanley appears to be making all the right moves.
Although Cooper has recovered from a hip injury suffered during the State of Origin opener on May 26, Stanley still made the trip to Auckland today as cover and a bench role against the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday at Mt Smart Stadium was still a possibility.
Dragons playmaker Jamie Soward is among those impressed since Stanley was promoted from the Toyota Cup under-20 team, and predicts he will develop into a focal point of the NRL's next generation.
"Kyle's got that utility value like (Bulldogs five-eighth) Benny Barba, but he can play anywhere," Soward said.
"At fullback, wing, he's sort of got that build about him where he's not short enough where he can't play on the wing and catch the high ball."
Stanley is primarily regarded as a five-eighth - the position Soward has a lock on - but displayed his versatility against Parramatta last weekend.
He made 23 tackles, 14 hit-ups and also scored a try during a 30-0 romp that firmed the Dragons as premiership favourites.
"I'm sure if Kyle keeps doing what he's doing he won't be far away," Soward said of Stanley's first grade prospects for the remainder of 2010.
Stanley, whose brother Chase played two tests for the Kiwis in 2007, is hoping Bennett will consider using him off the bench in a role Barba has perfected at the Bulldogs.
"Obviously it's up to Wayne, but coming on as a utility, I'd like to do that," he said, likening himself to the Bulldogs prodigy.
"Barba just takes the game to another level when he comes on, he's fresh and he's got all the skills in the world and good speed in the back half of the second half."
Although Stanley plays in the halves for the under-20 side, the was confident of playing anywhere in a Dragons backline brimming with international experience.
"Any position just comes natural to me, I guess," Stanley said. "It doesn't really bother me. I can play fullback or on the wing, just as long as I'm playing on the field, that's the main thing."
However, Stanley realises he his work cut out to push out the incumbents in a backline boasting the tryscoring capabilities of Brett Morris, Kiwis wing Jason Nightingale and fullback Darius Boyd, the pacesetter for the Dally M player of the year award.
Bennett emphasised Stanley would be nurtured carefully.
"How we use Kyle will hopefully be wisely, we want to develop the wonderful potential we all see in him," he said, suggesting centre was his likely position.
Even if he does have to bide his time, the wait will have been worth it given Stanley's resolve has already been tested by two knee reconstructions, the first when 15 and another last year.
He admitted giving league away crossed his mind, but now claims he is mentally tougher after bouncing back from the surgeries.
"I'm not trying to boast, but a lot of young kids would have pulled the pin," he said.
"I came back from my second (knee reconstruction) and said 'No, I'm going to put my head down and do it'," he said, before adding news that will hearten the NRL's hierarchy: "I want to be a league player for the next 10 years."
