KNIGHTS coach Rick Stone says Constantine Mika will receive increasing opportunities in the top grade next season regardless of how many back-rowers the club signs.
Mika, the 20-year-old former New Zealand Warrior, has been named in Newcastle's starting line-up for the first time in his fledgling career and will face Manly at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Monday night.
Regarded as one of Newcastle's brightest young talents, Mika has been nurtured since his arrival from Auckland midway through the 2008 season.
Last year he captained the Knights under 20s and made his first two NRL appearances off the bench, scoring a game-breaking try on debut against the Bulldogs.
This year he has featured in six first-grade games as an interchange forward, and Stone feels he is ready to be blooded in the run-on pack.
"He's obviously got a few areas in his game that he needs to improve but he adds plenty to the team, Con," Stone said yesterday.
"He's got a little bit of attack and defence in him, and he's got some genuine skill.
"He got shifted late in the game to five-eighth against the Cowboys last week and handled himself pretty well.
"So we're going to give him an opportunity. He hasn't had a starting place in first grade since his debut, so it's a great opportunity for him."
Stone said Mika would feature prominently in any future plans even though the club looks likely to have a stockpile of back-rowers next season.
Newcastle have signed Queensland Origin star Neville Costigan from St George Illawarra, Kyle O'Donnell from Cronulla's under 20s and have tabled an offer to the Dragons' Kiwi Test forward Jeremy Smith.
They already have established back-rowers Cory Paterson, Zeb Taia and Matt Hilder on their books for next season, and possibly veteran Steve Simpson if he can secure a new contract.
"He [Mika] is a young player learning his trade," Stone said.
"He's far from the finished product. He's got a couple of years in front of him before he'll be at his best.
"If he gets a dozen or so games this year, that was our goal for him, and if he can play a few more the following year and a few more the following year, by the time I reckon he's 25, we'll see the best of Con."
Mika said he was unaware he had been named in the starting team but was happy to play wherever he was selected.
"My goal this year has been to get in the squad," he said.
"I'm with the club for another couple of years, and hopefully eventually the coaches will see me as a regular first-grader."
Newcastle's preparations for Monday night's do-or-die showdown were hampered yesterday by a demoralising injury toll.
Cory Paterson (shoulder), James McManus (knee), Ben Rogers (ankle) and Steve Simpson (knee) are definitely out.
Adam MacDougall (ankle), Junior Sa'u (hip), Dan Tolar (thigh) and Isaac De Gois (hamstring) were either unable to train yesterday or on restricted duties.
Stone said all his wounded troops would be given until Saturday to prove their fitness.
"We mightn't be at full strength but at this stage you can only play the players who are available," Stone said.
"You need a squad of around 30, and we've used closed to that. Ideally we'd like our best team on the park, but that's not possible this week."
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