HE has already shown enough to earn a 12-month contract extension with the Newcastle Knights.
Now Enari Tuala is waiting to learn if he has shown enough to snare a starting position in the March 14 season opener against the Warriors at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The 21-year-old centre, who played 18 NRL games for North Queensland, joined Newcastle in November on a one-year deal.
But as a reward for his efforts during pre-season training and in two trial matches, Knights officials have extended his tenure until at least the end of 2021.
Tuala is now a genuine contender for Newcastle's clash with the Warriors and has presented new coach Adam O'Brien with perhaps his toughest selection decision leading into round one.
Teenage dynamo Bradman Best will miss the first few games because of a broken bone in his foot, while O'Brien said experienced Tautau Moga had been "flying" before a hamstring strain ruled him out of the trials.
In their absence, Tuala and former Broncos centre Gehamat Shibasaki have each staked a worthy claim for selection.
Shibasaki appears a certain starter at right-side centre, and O'Brien faces a tough choice between Tuala and Moga to play alongside Edrick Lee on the left edge.
"We haven't spoken about round one yet," Tuala told the Newcastle Herald.
"The trial games were a good hit-out, but there's room for improvement."
Asked if he felt he had done enough to convince O'Brien he was ready for a start against the Warriors, Tuala replied: "I hope so."
Tuala and Shibasaki are far from household names and have appeared in a combined tally of 31 NRL games.
But their potential was recognised in 2018 when both represented the Prime Minister's XIII and Junior Kangaroos. The pair have a long association dating back to their junior-football days in Townsville.
"I grew up playing some rep footy with him, then when I moved to Townsville [from Cairns] we ended up playing school footy against each other," Tuala said.
"We were close. He only lived down the road from where I was living, so we always hanging out, playing basketball or going to get some food.
"I'm stoked we moved to the same club and are playing in the same team.
"I signed first and he signed after. He called me up before he signed and he moved in with me for a while before Christmas. It's good to have him here."
The other familar face for Tuala when he arrived in Newcastle, after a 2100-kilometre, four-day drive from Townsville, was Queensland Origin fullback Kalyn Ponga.
The pair played together for North Queensland's under-20s in 2016.
After making only seven top-grade appearances for the Cowboys last season, Tuala had no hesitation in linking with Newcastle.
"My manager told me there was an opportunity here and I thought I'd take it," he said. "I was in need of a change, something different.
"I really wanted to come down here.
"I signed for one year but the club offered me a second year, and once I heard that news I was stoked. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
The experienced Lee has helped with Tuala's transition from right-side specialist to left edge.
"I've played right side basically my whole life, so I'm still adjusting to left," he said.
"It's great to have Eddy beside me. He tells me straight what I need to work on. He's been a big help."
