The jink, step and off-load to Tyson Frizell that led to Kalyn Ponga's matchwinning try out of nothing against the Cronulla Sharks at home in round six after Jones had fielded a wayward Blake Green cross-kick.

And the match-clinching try in the corner to break a 6-6 deadlock in the wet against the Warriors at home in round 15.

Both came when the Cessnock junior, usually a backrower or lock, was playing in the unfamiliar centre role for the Knights.

"I surprised myself in some ways and probably surprised a few others too last season," Jones says. "Confidence has never been one of my strong points and coming up against the calibre of player in the NRL each week, it's never easy.

"There's still a lot of things I'm learning playing at that level but those moments, you draw confidence from them for sure. They definitely help you overcome those doubts about whether you belong and are good enough."

Jones says Ponga's try against the Sharks will always hold a special place on his highlights reel.

"That moment - the whole thing when KP went over to score and the lead-up is cemented in my brain forever I reckon," he said. "But in saying that, I'm not looking back now, just looking ahead to next season and trying to make an even bigger impact when I get the opportunity."

In a sign of things to come, Jones has spent the bulk of pre-season training so far in the backrow and has dropped some weight in a bid to improve his speed.

"I've done a little bit in the middle but not too much," he said.

"My plan is to stay in really good nick. I've lost a few kilos from last season in case I do get thrown on in the centres again.

"To be honest, I wanted to play a little bit lighter just with the speed of the game increasing and I want to get faster myself so I've been doing heaps of technique stuff on that. I just want to be there somewhere and I want as many minutes as I can doing my role for the team, whatever that may be."

Jones' promising 2021 means he will start next season at least feeling a little more secure than usual after signing a two-year-deal rather than the usual one year extension. But he says that won't alter his approach with his sole focus on improving and being more consistent next year.

"I want to take that next step - I don't want to be a bit player," he said. "I'm feeling good. Training's been flat out. The first season when Adam [coach O'Brien] arrived was really tough, especially with the smoke from the fires. But this pre-season has been on a par with that for how tough it's been.

"I'm enjoying it - can't wait for kick-off."

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