Petaia is not 3-10. Numbers obfuscate, but maybe 4-8? 5-8? With 10 as an upside? Stewart is a solid 6-7 on that score. [His impressiveness is that he holds the same ability when stepping up to international level. Rare situation, that.]
Petaia also has not told us what position he is targeting. Apparently doesn't want 13 (hence Paisami opportunity) and wants 15. Which so far no professional coach/selector seems to agree with. He needs to lock in quickly with a choice, a choice that the coaching staff can live with. Otherwise he has Hodge-style utility stamped all over him.
I thought he was good on the wing, not as good as he has been at 13. But if he doesn't want it, clearly Paisami does. I wouldn't choose Paisami over Stewart right now either, and if Paisami likes 13, is dedicating to it, and continues to do well - well Petaia's opportunity just shrank.
And may continue shrinking if Vunavalu shows any of the promise that attracted Reds/RA.
So 15 stands as a possibility. (So does 14 with a fight.) Petaia is likely to displace Campbell more quickly at 15 than he might displace Stewart at 12. But he still has to convince the coaches to try it, and he has to show the same aptitude that I think he has shown at 13. (Did I mention "but apparently doesn't want".)
It's a conundrum. For now Paisami is taking opportunities. Neither Stewart nor Campbell have actually locked in their consistency and effectiveness in 2021, but then Petaia is not doing anything, it seems, to lay a challenge.
Unless something changes, I see 11: Daugunu; 12: Stewart; 13: Paisami; 14: It's a fight; 15: Campbell/Hegarty. And Petaia in the 14 fight or to the bench as an impact player. An important impact player, but probably not where he wants to be going.
