HE missed a tackle to concede a try and finished with countless stitches in a head wound, but for Brodie Jones it was the culmination of a chilldhood dream.
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"Best day of my life," Jones says proudly of his NRL debut last season, when he came off the bench to help the Newcastle Knights eke out a courageous 14-all draw with Penrith at Campbelltown Stadium.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the 22-year-old back-rower had no inkling he would be playing. He had just completed Newcastle's captain's run, as part of the "opposed" team, when whispers started circulating that Lachlan Fitzgibbon had suffered a last-minute injury.
Jones' head was soon spinning after coach Adam O'Brien informed him he would become the 318th man to wear the blue and red in a first-grade match.
And it was no ordinary debut.
After early injuries to Mitchell Pearce and Connor Watson, Jones was injected into the game and proceeded to play 82 consecutive minutes, making 51 tackles, in a golden-point thriller.
Adding to the challenge, he was directly marking towering Viliame Kikau, who crashed through early on to score.
The Maitland-born, Cessnock Goannas junior and 2016 Australian Schoolboys representative simply dusted himself off, rolled up his sleeves and and got on with it.
"When Kikau scored, it was all a bit frantic up until then but we kind of regrouped and everything just seemed to unfold," he said.
"As the game went on, I could feel myself getting more confident.
"It was like I realised I could play at that level. I'll definitely never forget it. Best day of my life.
"I wouldn't have wanted it any other way."
Jones proceeded to play another six games off the bench - including big wins against Canberra (34-18), Wests Tigers (44-4) and Cronulla (38-10) - and showed enough potential to earn a contract extension for 2021.
After his baptism of fire last season, Jones has now set his sights on establishing himself in Newcastle's top 17 and, eventually, challenging for a starting berth.
He knows it won't be easy. Even after the departures of Sione Mata'utia (St Helens) and Aidan Guerra (retired), Jones is still likely to bide his time behind new recruit Tyson Frizell, Mitchell Barnett and Fitzgibbon.
"I got a taste of it last year, and that experience means that it's not the unknown any more," he said.
"Now it's about competing and trying to get better. Hopefully I can improve again this season, play as many games as I can in the 17 and cement a spot."
The Knights resume training on Monday after their Christmas- New Year break.
