Although only playing 4 games for the Roosters in 2005, Paea went on to captain the Junior Kangaroos[6] and claimed the Junior Rep Player of the Year at the Roosters awards night.
In 2006, Paea made his international début for Tonga against Samoa.[7]
On 23 May 2009, Paea was the subject of a controversial racial vilification dispute with Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks captain, Paul Gallen, late in the local derby played between the Dragons and Sharks. Gallen, who took objection to Paea accidentally stepping on his hand in a tackle, got up and called Paea a "black cunt".[14] Paea's angry response was caught by television cameras and microphones, but he did not wish to take the matter further after the match.[15] After the match, Paea said, "But then something told me to just forget about it and to just move on. Things happen on the field and you don't want to get too personal about it. But I've been getting different kinds of reactions. After the game I had my church friends sending me messages saying, 'You handled it really well, it was very Kingdom the way you dealt with it'. Then I had other mates saying, 'You should have smashed him'."
Nevertheless, the NRL decided to step in and issued a $10,000 fine to Gallen.[16][17]
Paea playing for the Bulldogs
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
On 13 August 2009, Paea signed a two-year contract with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs starting in 2010.[18] He went on to make 16 appearances in 2010 and 12 appearances in 2011.[19]
