KYE Davis was destined to play for Southern Beaches.
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The club's home base is Allen Davis Oval, named after Kye's late grandfather, who helped establish the ground and then maintained it for many years.
The complex has recently undergone a multi-million dollar development.
"It's one of the main reasons I played for Southern Beaches in juniors," Davis said. "Pop played league and union. He represented Australia at rugby. It was council land, but he mapped out the ground and then did all the maintenance of it."
Davis now hopes to establish his own legacy at Beaches.
Looking at and talking to the front-rower, it's hard to believe that he is just 17. He clocks the scales at 120 kilograms and stands 186cm tall.
A labourer at his uncle's building business, Davis made his first-grade debut for Beaches in the season opener in the second-row - under Rugby Australia guidelines players under-18 have to be assessed before they can play front-row in the top grade.
A work accident, in which Davis put a piece of reinforced steel through his calf, sidelined the former Hunter Sports High student for five weeks. He returned in second grade a fortnight ago and was a part of the Newcastle colts side, playing off the bench at No.8, which won the under-19 Country Championships in Tamworth last weekend.
Davis will be assessed for the front row by a level II accredited coach on Thursday night and is expected to pack down in the engine room against Wanderers at home on Saturday.
"I have not seen someone with his potential for a long time," Southern Beaches coach Ben Kinkade said. "He will have no issues with the assessment. He is a representative front-rower. He has the size, his technique is really good and he is mature beyond his years. He was bossing guys around at the third training session. I have spoken to [NSW Waratahs general manager of rugby] Tim Rapp about him and the pathways available."
Davis represented NSW Combined High Schools under-16s in the front-row in 2017. He played rugby league last year with his mates at Dudley but "missed rugby".
His "heart was racing" against Merewether in round one but he handled the physicality.
"I have always played up two or three grades growing up but it was still pretty exciting," Davis said. "I'm really looking forward to this week, hopefully I get the nod. I enjoy scrummaging and love tackling. I want to go as far as I can. One day, hopefully I will be in a position to get paid to do what I love."
Kinkade insists they will tread cautiously with Davis and believes he will benefit from the arrival this week of English hooker Ryan Jackson.
"We will bring him on slowly," Kinkade said. "Ryan Jackson will be good for him as will Pete Betham."
Newcastle Colts coach Blake Creighton agreed with Kinkade's endorsement.
"He is still eligible for under-18s and was a real handful for us off the bench at No.8," Creighton said. "He will be a front-rower, looking at his build. Once he learns a bit more and spends a bit of time there he will prosper. He certainly has the aggression and size. He has smarts about him as well. He is pretty raw but he doesn't just try to barrel over people. He picks his time and picks his spots."
Davis isn't the only promising front-rower at Davis Field.
Lachlan MacDonald was also a member of the successful Newcastle colts side.
"Lachy has a league background but he is really keen to rip in and get better and better," Kinkade said.
