IT was difficult to tell who was prouder yesterday when rookie winger Kevin Naiqama was told he would make his NRL debut for the Knights against Melbourne at AAMI Park tomorrow.
Knights coach Rick Stone pulled Naiqama aside towards the end of the team's morning training session at Mayfield to tell him centre Junior Sa'u had succumbed to a hamstring strain and he would be taking his place in the Newcastle back line.
The 21-year-old Fijian international's beaming smile revealed his joy but older brother Wes, who will start at fullback for Shannon McDonnell (hamstring), was equally excited.
"I've been trying to play my best footy, trying to get a spot in the team and today it's paid off," the Arncliffe Scots and St George Dragons junior said yesterday.
"It's going to be crazy - they're saying it's sold out - so it will be a real special occasion for me as well.
"But not only that, I'll be playing with my brother . . . He's helped me a lot and I've come this far, so hopefully we can do something special together on the weekend."
Kevin will play on the left wing outside departing Tongan international Cooper Vuna, who will take Sau's place in the centres.
Following in the footsteps of Matthew and Andrew Johns, Matt and Kurt Gidley and Adam, Ben and Luke MacDougall, the Naiqama boys will become the fourth set of brothers to play first grade for the Knights.
Kevin said he had spoken to Wes for a "heads up" and that he would continue to pick big brother's brain up to kick-off.
Wes was a nervous wreck for his NRL debut for the Dragons against the Raiders in Canberra five years ago and hoped Kevin was not as anxious.
"He's already asked me what I did before my debut and I just told him not to play the game too early in his head, just try to stay relaxed," Wes said.
Wes Naiqama, 27, who is Fiji's captain, has made 18 appearances for the Knights this season but the game against Melbourne tomorrow will be only his eighth start.
"It was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to play with Kev before I finished up and we get the chance this week," he said. "I'm really proud of him and I'm sure the family will be too."
Kevin, who will become the 220th man to play first grade for the Knights, accompanied Wes to Newcastle in 2008.
He scored six tries in 14 games for Newcastle's National Youth Cup team then crossed for 15 tries, including four in one match, in 21 NYC games last year.
Kevin made his debut for Fiji in the Pacific Cup last year, playing fullback alongside Wes and Knights teammate Aku Uate.
He has scored 18 tries this year for Newcastle's NSW Cup feeder team, Central Coast Centurions, and scored a try representing NSW Residents in the curtain-raiser to the third State of Origin game in Sydney on July 7.
Stone said Kevin had established some form against Melbourne, scoring two tries in the Centurions' 46-38 win over the Storm's NSW Cup team at Olympic Park on July 24.
"Kevvie's been waiting a long, long time this year but he gets his chance this weekend," he said. "He's a popular lad, he's worked hard and he deserves his opportunity."
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