Can the Newcastle Knights' rookie centre recruit hold…

Can the Newcastle Knights' rookie centre recruit hold off Bradman Best challenge?

Trytime: Knights centre Enari Tuala dives over to score one of his two tries during Newcastle's 42-24 win over Wests Tigers in round 2 before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: NRL Photos.

No-one was more surprised then Enari Tuala to be in the Knights run-on side for the opening two rounds of the NRL season.

After all, it was only four months prior that the Newcastle centre recruit thought his career at the top level was over after being shown the door by the North Queensland Cowboys.

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"I was getting myself ready to play Queensland Cup," he told the Newcastle Herald.

"So getting the call from the Knights and then to be in the run-on side for round one - yeah, you could say I was surprised I guess."

Injuries to boom teenager Bradman Best and the more experienced Tautau Moga clearly helped his cause but after not putting a foot wrong in the trials, Tuala justified the faith in him from coach Adam O'Brien by playing strongly against both the Warriors and Wests Tigers before the competition was suspended.

His most recent game against the Tigers produced a try double from the 21-year-old.

But now comes his big test - fending off a challenge for his position from a fully fit and hungry Best.

Tuala acknowledges he will be under pressure to keep performing, both at training and in games, when the season re-commences in potentially a months time.

"Bradie [Best] - yeah he is such a gun player and he's coming back from a foot injury and will be back training when we get back," Tuala said.

"It will put more pressure on me for the spot but if I keep playing consistent and train well, hopefully it will work out. But to be honest, I'm not too sure what will happen."

Coach O'Brien has already shown he likes to reward his players if he believes they deserve it.

When Tuala agreed to move from Townsville to Newcastle on a one year deal late last year, O'Brien told the young centre if he trained hard during the pre-season and did well in the trials, he would be looked after with an extended deal.

True to his word, Tuala was re-signed for a further season in early March, just before the start of the premiership.

Whether those rewards extend to Tuala re-starting the season at left centre in front of Best remains to be seen and will likely hinge on just how well both train.

"I was really happy with the way I played in those first two games so to have it called off then was pretty disappointing and a bit of a setback I guess," he said. "But it's the same for everyone and you just have to deal with it."

Tuala said he has spent most of his time in isolation since the shutdown making sure he is as prepared as he can be for the footy to return, for the most part training alongside close mate. fellow centre Gehamat Shibasaki.

"I'm happy with how I've been training - I'm feeling good," he said.

"Gehamat and I, we've just been doing a lot of gym and a lot of field stuff at one of the local footy fields at Gateshead.

"I've just made sure I've stayed fit and done everything right and everything I could so that I'm ready to go again when we get back into it.

"I'm really keen to get back to full training and see all the boys as well. I'm loving it down here and love the company of the boys and love the club so it's good."

O'Brien is not expected to face too many other selection headaches leading into the competition's re-boot.

He won't have suspended fullback Kalyn Ponga for round three with Tex Hoy to slot in at the back for his NRL debut while the loss of right edge backrower Mitch Barnett to a neck injury will be off-set by the return of a fully fit Sione Mata'utia.

A big out for the remainder of the season is hooker Jayden Brailey following his knee surgery with utility Connor Watson and rookie Chris Randall both in the frame as replacements.

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