Which is why in the uber-fast NRL of 2026, the Parramatta prop has adapted to survive.
The tweaking of the six-again rule over the summer - moving the threshold back to the 20-metre line - has created a helter-skelter start to the season where points are plentiful.
The change has caused some concern for the players' union, the RLPA, who this week requested data from the NRL on the spate of injuries that have impacted the competition.
Parramatta are on the podium when comparing injury tolls, with seven first-graders unavailable for Sunday's trip to face Manly at Brookvale Oval.
For his part, Paulo, 32, made a concerted effort to shed weight over the off-season in a bid for the Samoan international to keep pace with the modern game.
When told how lean he was looking, the prop, who reckons he was once tipping the scales closer to 140kg, said: "Thank you, that kind of compliment doesn't get thrown around that often.
"Anywhere between 111kg and 113kg - it depends what day of the week you're asking, I found that's been where I'm at my most consistent.
"I've fluctuated over the last decade and played at my heaviest at a high 130-something.
"You have got to be able to adapt and evolve, and it's unfortunate that the bigger guys are becoming extinct in the game and the game is becoming a more mobile and high-paced sort of game."
Paulo refused to blame the NRL's rule tweaks on the Eels' horrific injury toll as they look to stop Manly's resurgence under interim coach Kieran Foran.
"The rules haven't changed too much besides the six-again, so it doesn't really come down to using that as an excuse," Paulo said.
"We speed up the game, cause more fatigue, and with fatigue technique can go out the window.
"We've unfortunately been on the flip-side of that, even though no one means to go out there and injure the opposition.
"We're a team that's suffering from the consequences … I think we've got a very good product in the game at the moment."
Paulo stressed the need for the Eels to continue their defensive improvements following last week's impressive 38-20 win over Canterbury.
Jason Ryles' side have leaked a league-high 35.1 points through their first seven games of the season.
"That's the exact team that we want to be, we want to be a physical team," Paulo said.
"We've been heavily criticised towards the start of the year about our defence, and a time comes where you want to draw a line in the sand."
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