HE is an unknown teenager from the mean streets of Auckland who Newcastle coach Brian Smith believes can become an NRL wildcard next season.
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Meet Constantine Mika, once a Warrior, now a Knight.
Signed by Newcastle in May after being granted a release by the Warriors, Mika played out the season in the Central Newcastle NSW Cup (reserve grade) team.
But his half-season in the twilight zone was because the Warriors insisted on a release clause that prevented the 105 kilogram utility from playing either first grade or under 20s until the end of 2008.
Now Smith can deploy him in any capacity he sees fit, and the coach has no doubts the 19-year-old will be a top-grade contender by the time next season kicks off.
"Oh yeah," Smith said. "He's not here for a haircut."
Mika is a product of the famous Otahuhu club, which has produced such Kiwi legends as Ruben Wiki, Mark Graham and Hugh McGahan.
He has represented New Zealand at under-16 and under-18 level and played for the Junior Kiwis.
He has a front-rower's physique but the skills and strikepower to play several positions in the backline.
Sources have told the Knights that Mika was the best youngster his age in New Zealand.
"He's just a footballer high skill level, great awareness, and just a natural sort of talent," Smith said
"He can pass, offload in a tackle, and he turns up on big plays.
"For the real old-timers, he's an Olsen Filipaina type.
"He can lay a ball on for a try, he can make a break, he can score a try.
"If there's nothing doing five or 10 metres out, he'll back himself and, unless you hit him head-on, he's going to test whether you can tackle or not."
Smith admits, however, that while in Auckland Mika was "a bit on the laidback side and maybe he didn't push himself as hard as he might have on the physical components", which perhaps explains why he decided to follow another ex-Warrior, Cooper Vuna, to Newcastle.
"I was just looking for a new start, a change of environment," Mika said.
"I saw an opportunity here.
"Brian had a bit of faith in me. I guess it's just up to me to do the hard yards."
Just where Smith will play him next season remains to be seen.
Initially the coach plans to ease him into the NRL off the interchange bench.
"That I'm not sure of," Smith said.
"He might start at lock or second row, but if he really develops and gets himself in the best possible shape, he could play five-eighth . . . he can still play under 20s next year, and there's a chance he might have to do a bit of that.
"But he'll take some holding."
Mika said he was happy to be guided by Smith's judgement.
"I don't really mind, as long as I'm on the park," Mika said. "But I prefer it on the edges maybe second row."
Smith struck gold this year when he signed Junior Sau from Canberra's lower grades and unleashed him in the NRL.
He believes Mika, who is contracted for two more seasons, is capable of following a similar trajectory.
"That's quite possible," Smith said.
"Like Junior, he's very well developed physically in terms of strength. He's got good size and it's more the conditioning side of things repeat efforts and perhaps sharpening up his speed. If he does that, he's got the skills."
Mika admitted his home turf in Auckland was "kind of a rough neighbourhood" but he nonetheless battled homesickness when he first moved to Newcastle.
He is now happily settled in his own flat near the Knights' Mayfield training complex and feeling more and more at home.
"First couple of months it was hard," Mika said.
"It still gets a bit tough at times. I came here by myself, no family here.
"But I always knew it was going to be tough."
