LAST man standing.
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It's a label that normally applies to a battered veteran who has withstood the test of time and is nearing the end of his career, not a 23-year-old with plenty of football still ahead of him.
But as Sione Mata'utia prepares for the 2020 NRL season, that rather unique scenario has become his reality.
In a sign of the upheaval the Knights have endured in recent years, not only has Mata'utia played more first-grade games (112) for them than any of his current teammates, but he is also the only survivor from their 2014 campaign, which was Wayne Bennett's last as Newcastle's coach.
Wind back the clock to that season and Mata'utia was entitled to be thinking that the NRL was not as tough as everyone made out.
In his first seven games, the Knights celebrated five wins and he scored seven tries, including a hat-trick against the Warriors. His reward at the end of the season was selection for Australia in three Test matches.
At the age of 18, he had become the youngest-ever Kangaroo.
Five seasons on, and Mata'utia is older and wiser, having learned some harsh lessons in the school of hard knocks.
The next 105 first-grade games of his career delivered three wooden spoons and only 30 more wins. He suffered a spate of head knocks that at one point cast doubt over his long-term future.
And he is still yet to set foot on a field in a play-off match.
Nonetheless, Mata'utia insists "it's still been fun, even during the tough times when we had a very young team".
But like the rest of his teammates, he is tired of playing the role of spectators as the business end of the season unfolds.
"Last year was the closest I've been to being in contention for the finals, so that was exciting," he said. "We were only a couple of wins off, so I can only imagine what it would be like to be involved.
"I've learned a lot over the last few years, and I'm happy to still be here. But obviously playing in the finals is something I want to experience.
"That's what we're all working hard to achieve."
After debuting as a fullback, Mata'utia has since played wing, centre, back row and middle forward for the Knights.
New coach Adam O'Brien has indicated he sees his long-term position as back row, but Mata'utia is prepared to "slot in wherever" when the situation arises.
He has no qualms if O'Brien wants to use him around the middle of the ruck, as former coach Nathan Brown did at times last season.
"I was coming off the bench, playing middle, and that was a challenge I enjoyed," he said.
"I didn't mind that.
"The game has changed. Back in the day, it was just big props running up through the middle, but these days you've the likes of Victor Radley and Cameron Murray, who have shown that size isn't everything.
"They've got speed and are deceptively strong, and if Adam thinks that's a good role for me, I'm happy to do it."