The circumstances surrounding Brodie Jones s surprise star turn against Cronulla on Friday night were remarkably similar to the Newcastle forward s NRL debut almost 11 months earlier.
The 22-year-old Cessnock Goannas junior scored his first NRL try, was involved in the lead-up to two others including Kalyn Ponga s late match-winner, and saved two in Newcastle s morale-boosting 26-22 victory over the Sharks at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Jones, who has always played as a middle or edge forward throughout his developmental years at Cessnock and the Knights, turned heads with an influential performance filling in at right centre after winger Hymel Hunt hobbled off with a hamstring injury in the seventh minute.