Sent out to play in the unfamiliar role of right centre after just six minutes when Hymel Hunt tore his hamstring, all Jones was focused on as he ran out was not letting down his team-mates.

He didn't. Instead, the Knights utility inspired them.

Producing easily the best performance of his fledgling career in the Knights' heart-stopping 26-22 victory, the 23-year-old Cessnock Goannas junior personified everything and more that coach Adam O'Brien wanted to see from his players in response to a dismal effort against the Titans the previous week.

His 74 minutes on the field had it all. Determination, desperation, flair, skill and a truckload of effort.

Jones not only scored his first NRL try, he also had a big hand in Kalyn Ponga's match-winner at the death and perhaps even more importantly, came up with two huge effort plays in both halves to prevent two Sharks' tries.

"It feels pretty good....yeah it does feel good to know I made a contribution," he told the Newcastle Herald.

"But at the end of the day, I was just out there trying my hardest and doing my best and trying not to over-think anything. Some stuff came off which was great and to win it like that at the end was pretty special."

Jones wasted no time making his presence felt in the contest. He was on the field for just three minutes when he somehow got back into his own in-goal to deny William Kennedy when the Sharks fullback looked certain to score after following through a kick.

Early in the second half, he again showed desperation to secure the ball in his own in-goal to prevent a Sharks try. Then there was his own try and try assist for Ponga's four-pointer at the death.

Understandably, O'Brien was singing Jones' praises after the game.

"I think I counted in my head he was in eight pieces of play that I stood up and applauded so he's done a good job," the coach said.

Jones, who has been in the Knights' system for several years, has only been offered one-year deals by the club over the past three seasons because of continued doubts over whether he could turn potential into anything more than that.

But after starring roles in the top grade over the past fortnight, the club may now need a strategy rethink.

Jones said his eye-catching 33-minute stint against the Titans had given him the confidence to play like he did against the Sharks.

"I came on at lock against the Titans and the way I played definitely helped me confidence-wise," he told the Newcastle Herald. "For me, it's been about trying to take all the stress out of it and not over-think things.

"That's been a big fault of mine - over-thinking and letting stress get the better of me. So, in some respects, it's been an advantage coming off the bench and not knowing exactly what my role would be.

"I didn't even notice Hymel get hurt before Rory [Kostjasyn] told me to get ready to go on and play right centre. So it all just hit me and in that split second. I immediately thought, now don't screw this up and let any of the boys down.

"I reckon I had three emotions really quick. I was nervous, stressed but then I was just 'okay, I'm ready to go'.

Jones says he is not even contemplating his future yet and is not even sure if he will be in the top grade this week.

"I wasn't used off the bench for two games and wasn't in the squad against the Dragons so there's no guarantees. I just need to keep working hard," he said.

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