Paea made his NRL debut for the Rabbitohs in round 26 of the 2006 season against the Wests Tigers.

A Junior Kiwi representative,[3] Paea was named in Tonga's squad for the 2008 World Cup.

[4] Paea scored his first senior international try in the World Cup match against Scotland on 8 November 2008.

[5] Paea spent the majority of his time whilst contracted with South Sydney playing for their feeder team, the North Sydney Bears, in the NSW Cup.

[6] Paea played Rugby Union in Krasnoyarsk Russia for Krasny Yar[7] as a first-5.