Pull out the little black book and jot these names down.
Elite Pathways recruitment manager, Alex McKinnon has offered up a host of names as players for nib Newcastle Knights supporters to keep an eye out for.
Tasked with the responsibility of signing the next wave of talented youngsters, McKinnon is confident the Club has some promising juniors making their way through the lower grades.
LISTEN TO THE ALEX MCKINNON PODCAST BELOW:
IF YOU'RE READING ON THE APP AND WANT TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST - CLICK HERE!
“I wouldn’t say I signed them, it’s a team effort. It’s an easier sell when the whole elite pathways is humming along nicely but if everyone’s been watching the under 16s Harold Matts team, they’re undefeated at the moment,” McKinnon told the Our Town Our Team podcast.
“There’s some really good players. Oryn Keeley is a kid who plays backrow, Jonah Pezet has been playing really well in the halves, I could list six or seven.
EXCITING TEEN PROSPECT SASAGI EXTENDS CONTRACT
“Noah Reed has been playing really good. Noah Nailagoliva, another good hooker in that team. Chris Veaila has been playing fullback and going really well.
“In the SG Ball team, Mitch Black has been going well. He plays hooker. Simi Sasagi is another good kid who hasn’t played this year and Bradman Best (who just made the jump to 20s).
“The good young kids coming through are very respectful and taught the Knights way by guys like Rory Kostjasyn and Scott Dureau.
“We’re very lucky to have those guys there.”
MEET THE 2019 HAROLD MATTHEWS SQUAD
At the senior level, McKinnon is keen to see the likes of Beau Fermor and Brodie Jones take it to the next level.
He’s seen Lachlan Fitzgibbon do it.
The Knights backrower is someone McKinnon was critical of earlier in his career.
Having taken his game to the next level, Fitzgibbon is a player McKinnon believes can be an elite level NRL player for the next decade.
“He’s someone I do enjoy watching,” McKinnon said.
“I still think he has a lot of area to improve but being a backrower myself, I think you judge the people within your position even harder.
“Initially Lachy was someone I was quite critical of… I’m very happy and proud of him.
“He’s really turned into a good backrower for the Knights and one that could be here for the next 10 years.”
