Meet Jirah Momoisea.
Standing 193 centimetres and tipping the scales at 109 kilos, the backrower is a youngster to keep an eye out for.
This is his fourth year playing rugby league and his second pre-season with the NRL squad.
“I started playing rugby league in my last year of school in 2016,” Momoisea said.
“I played for St Pauls College and got picked up by the Storm.
“This will be my third (at the Knights).”
The 21-year-old has spent the bulk of his league career playing in the middle but is likely to start 2020 playing in the backrow.
“Next year, I’ll play as an edge,” he said.
“I had a chat with (coach) Adam (O’Brien) and he likes the way I run and thinks I have athletic ability, so he’d like to see me on the edge.”
With a defensive focus, Momoisea has his sights set on an NRL start in 2020.
Knocking on the door for a run in first grade last season, the New Zealand product is determined to make the jump from Canterbury Cup in the New Year.
“I think I was pretty close in 2019,” he said.
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“I didn’t really see it as a realistic goal with all the boys ahead of me but now I’ve settled in and I’m confident in myself, I think there’s a big possibility of me debuting.”
Having joined the Knights in 2018 from Melbourne, Momoisea made the move with ex-Storm teammates Tevita Alifa and Beau Fermor.
He lives with Alifa, who is currently training with the Canterbury Cup side, and teammate Starford To’a.
While Fermor, a backrower currently recovering from an ACL, has been working with Momoisea on learning the ins and outs of the backrow.
“I’ve done quite a bit of video with him,” Momoisea said.
“He picks up some little things he does well that I can work on.
“His defensive movements are pretty on point and his line running is a real strength of his so I try and learn as much as I can from him.”
