Brailey understands the privilege of Buderus' jersey

He's only been in Newcastle a couple of months but already Jayden Brailey is acclimatising to the fact he is about to wear the famous No.9 jersey of Danny Buderus.

Rather than be daunted at the task, he told NRL.com he's embracing the challenge.

"I think the red and blue suits me," said the 23-year-old rake who has worn the black-white and-blue of Cronulla for the past three years.

"And I'm lucky to have come to another very proud club with a rich history.

"I particular am mindful that this number was the one Danny Buderus wore. He set the standard for a dummy-half pretty high.

"Hopefully I can finish my career here – spend the next 10 years here ideally. I just want to do the jersey and the club proud."

That Buderus certainly did in his 14 seasons in the Hunter, interspersed with three years at the Leeds Rhinos.

While Brailey has not yet commenced a senior representative career, he is well aware of Buderus's 24 Tests for Australia and 21 for NSW Origin.

"I've seen him around the place a couple of times. He told me he was really excited to see me here and that was a good sign for me," Brailey said.

"It's a privilege to wear the jersey he wore."

Brailey is hoping, and expecting, to tap into Buderus's knowledge whenever he comes to the training paddock.

That will also help in bonding with Mitchell Pearce like Buderus did with another famous halfback in Andrew Johns.

"We've been working that combination hard. He's the organiser of this team – getting us around the park," Brailey said.

"But he also brings fantastic energy. He doesn't stop talking on the field, he's always barking orders.

"For me it's about taking some of the pressure off him in terms of getting the forwards organised and relaying the messages that he wants to get out.

"We feed off each other well. I feel like we're doing things well straight off the bat and it's only going to get stronger."

Pearce was well acquainted with what Brailey would bring from the Sharks to the Knights, and with his 69 NRL games of experience playing alongside rep forwards like Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen and Wade Graham.

Brailey and Chad Townsend also solidified a good relationship as hooker and halfback at the Sharks.

"He'll be one of our most consistent players in my opinion. He's a tough player – he's a good bloke and fitted straight in," Pearce told NRL.com.

"He's played in a good system at Cronulla and played a lot of tough footy week-in-week-out and that's what you need – you need players who are hardened and consistent.

"We've got another big eight weeks to keep working on our combination. He's got a great skill set and he's all about the team.

"He rolls the ruck really well; he brings the forwards onto the ball; and he's got good speed out of dummy-half.

"He's a pretty composed personality out there. Watching him as an opposition player I always really respected the way he plays. He's going to be awesome for us."

Brailey made no secret of the fact the two biggest drawcards to Newcastle were Pearce and Kalyn Ponga. That trio in the attacking spine of the Knights is turning heads already.

"I'm in a very good position to play some very good football because of those two. They are another reason why I signed up here," Brailey said.

"Kalyn is at the start of his career but already achieved so much. Mitch has been around longer and learned so much."

The threesome will also be a treat for incoming coach Adam O'Brien.

"He's concentrated on my passes, my kick-pressure, all those little principles he wants to see from his No.9," Brailey said of early conversations with O'Brien.

"Alongside that he's building the foundation not just physically but mentally as well in all of us.

"I'm soaking everything in given his background at two winning clubs [Melbourne and the Roosters."