As far as first impressions go, Marvin Tauhinu did a fair job in his NYC debut against Penrith on Sunday.
In just 17 short yet quality minutes of football, Tauhinu scored two tries in a powerful maiden display in the Under-20s.
It was an impressive performance that left everyone at Hunter Stadium surprised, except for the Club's recruitment manager Peter Mulholland.
Mulholland first spotted Tauhinu playing in a schoolboy carnival in New Zealand back in 2012 and immediately knew he was capable of excelling in the Holden Cup ranks.
"Marvin's first up effort didn't shock me, because I thought he had the ability from the day I first saw him playing in an Under 17s rep side," Mulholland says.
"I was over there scouting and he was big and he had great leg speed and strength.
"My boys over in New Zealand had given me Marvin's name, so I went over and watched him and he was really good.
"He was also school captain at De La Salle College in Auckland and came from a really good family, so I put him on scholarship for a couple of years.
"Marvin has just arrived after finishing school last year, so I'm just happy Mick Crawley gave him a shot."
Tauhinu's rapid rise through the rugby league ranks is even more remarkable when you consider he primarily played rugby union as a junior.
He captained his school rugby side last year, but has taken to league like a seasoned veteran with Nelson Bay in the local Newcastle competition and now the Knights.
Throw in the fact Tauhinu is only 18 and coach Mick Crawley couldn't be happier to have the talented prop on his books.
"Marvin got his opportunity today and he scored two tries for a front-rower on debut," he enthuses.
"We’ll probably have to find a position for him somewhere else, because he’ll get thrown out of the front-rowers union doing that."
Gun centre Sione Mata’utia was equally impressed by Tauhinu's first NYC match.
"We’ve been waiting for big Marvin to get a crack," Mata'utia says.
"He has been training really well and he deserved the spot.
"So for him to go out there and put in that type of performance, it will really lift his confidence.
"I’m looking forward to seeing him play again."
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