All Blacks star back Jack Goodhue says Jordan Petaia typifies the electric rugby that the Queensland Reds seem to be all about this season.
Two of the most talented outside centres in Super Rugby square off when the Crusaders visit the revitalised Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
Goodhue has virtually entrenched himself as the starting All Blacks No.13 after a superb rookie Test season, with most interest now surrounding who will partner him in the midfield at the World Cup.
The 23-year-old has seen enough from Petaia, five years his junior, to suggest he has a top-flight rival over coming seasons.
Glimpses of talent from Brisbane State High School talent Petaia last season meshed into a brilliant attacking display in Queensland's opening 36-31 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin last week.
Petaia beat defenders and used his pace on several occasions, forming what shapes as a lethal partnership with Reds skipper Samu Kerevi.
"I think he's got really good speed, good skills," Goodhue said of Petaia.
"For a young guy, he seems to read the play really well and I think he's going to go from strength to strength this season.
"(The Reds) have got a bit of razzle and they're here to play. Arguably they played better than the Highlanders."
The defending champion Crusaders have opened with wins over the Blues and Hurricanes and are the standout performers among some mixed early-season showings from the Kiwi teams.
Goodhue added to the trans-Tasman sentiment that Australia's teams are improved in 2019, pointing to the Chiefs' 54-17 humbling in Canberra last week.
"For the Brumbies to do that to the Chiefs, I'd have to say something's changed. They're just playing very good footy at the moment," he said.
Double title-winning Crusaders coach Scott Robertson admired Reds coach Brad Thorn's willingness to patiently build a team and a style, even if it meant overhauling entrenched methods and shedding stars such as Quade Cooper.
"They can play, you could see the difference in them already from a year ago," Robertson said.
"It always takes two or three years to get established as a coach, especially when there is so much change with what Brad has done."
