ZANE Tetevano’s quest to become an established cog in the Knights engine room kicks off tonight when he packs down against the Newcastle Rugby League representative squad in a trial match at Tomaree Oval.
Tetevano made a formidable impact in his five NRL games last year, but the 21-year-old realises he is still an L-plater who can take nothing for granted under new coach Wayne Bennett.
‘‘Playing a couple of first-grade games last year has built a bit of confidence into myself,’’ Tetevano said yesterday.
‘‘I just want to play well, create a good first impression, have a bit of a blow-out and hopefully have a good win.
‘‘These trial games are a chance to show the coaches you want to play in round one. ‘‘It’s not my job to pick the teams. All I can do is play my best and give it 100 per cent.’’
Tetevano is one of six players in the Knights’ line-up tonight with first-grade experience to his name. The others are Kevin Naiqama, Siuatonga Likiliki, Marvin Filipo, Tyrone Roberts and new signing Daine Laurie.
Assistant coach Rick Stone, who will deputise tonight while Bennett is on the Gold Coast preparing for tomorrow’s All Stars match, said standout players would come into calculations for Newcastle’s two full-strength trials, against Penrith at Port Macquarie on Saturday week and Cronulla at Muswellbrook on February 18.
‘‘When you’re in their position, you’ve got to produce some good form and just wait and be ready when your opportunity comes,’’ Stone said.
‘‘We had a few boys last year who did well – Peter Mata’utia, Zane Tetevano and Tyrone Roberts in particular – and they showed they weren’t out of place when we did call them up.
‘‘I think it shows that reserve grade still stands up better than NYC for preparing players for first grade, and we saw that a bit last year with some of the guys like Peter and Zane who played three-quarters of a season last year in the NSW Cup before they came up.’’
Tetevano, who will play lock tonight, said he felt fitter than ever and was hopeful his hard yards over summer would pay dividends in the trial matches.
‘‘After the all the hard training we’ve done, I’m just looking forward to putting it all into practice,’’ Tetevano said.
‘‘It’s the toughest pre-season I’ve ever been involved in. It’s been hard, it’s been good, and I think all the boys are ready to roll now.’’
Stone said it was only natural that Newcastle’s players were growing impatient for action after training since November.
‘‘They’re ready,’’ Stone said.
‘‘When they get to this stage and they’ve been training hard, a game is the reward at the end of the rainbow.
‘‘It’s a little window of opportunity for them.
‘‘Everyone’s ready and I guess now they get a chance to knock the rust off and see if they can put into place some of the principles that Wayne’s been drilling into the boys.’’
Despite Bennett’s All Stars commitments, Stone said the master coach would be seeking feedback from tonight’s hit-out.
‘‘Yeah, he’ll get a look at them, for sure,’’ Stone said.
‘‘We’ll get the game videoed and no doubt he will also ask us for our thoughts, watching it live.’’
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