The Sharks are replacing the debt-ridden Northern Blues in the Newcastle Rugby League competition but are struggling to gather enough financial support.

The Knights have given the club a boost, granting them hosting rights for trials at Tomaree Sports Complex on February 3.

The National Youth Competition (under-20s) side will play the Sharks and an extended Newcastle representative squad will take on the Knights’ NSW Cup side.

It will be a return of sorts for Filipo, who first came to the region to link with the Nelson Bay Blues in 2008.

After two seasons with the Bay, he was picked up by the Knights’ feeder club, the Central Coast Centurions, and was rewarded for his perseverance last season when he made his NRL debut against his former club the New Zealand Warriors in round 10.

The breakthrough came after short stints in the Warriors and Brisbane Broncos systems without success.

The Blues played no small part in Filipo’s success and the 24-year-old remains grateful.

‘‘When I came to Newcastle, the first season at the Bay didn’t really work out. It was hard to find work,’’ Filipo said.

‘‘The year went on and we started living off the club, we started asking for money to get by, on match payments, and I didn’t play many games there [due to injury and suspension].

‘‘I returned the following year, because I felt like I owed them because they were so kind to me the previous year, but by then I was working and living in Sydney.

‘‘It was kind of tough. I used to catch the train up each weekend to play for the Bay.’’

That year, 2009, Filipo made the NSW Country side and gained the Knights’ attention.

He is looking forward to getting back to Tomaree next week and helping in the new club’s growth.

Filipo will be among a host of fringe first-graders expected to turn out for the NSW Cup side.

Tyrone Roberts, Zane Tetevano, Kevin Naiqama, Tonga Likiliki, Kyle O’Donnell, Sam Anderson, Ethan Cook, Rodney Mason, Robbie Rochow, Mark Wade and Daine Laurie are others.

Filipo is on the comeback from a torn pectoral muscle that ruined his end to 2010. He hopes to build on his NRL breakthrough.