Big day for young Knight

Hedland teenager Will Finau’s 17th birthday will no doubt be one to remember, with the up-and-coming rugby league star signing a two-year contract with the Newcastle Knights.

Finau will make the move to Newcastle around October to begin training with his under-18s teammates ahead of the of 2017 season early next year.

The young star is expected to progress to the internationally televised National Youth Competition in June and could debut for the Knights’ NRL side at some point during his contract if called upon to do so.

It’s a big deal for Pilbara-born and bred boy Will, who said while he was nervous, he was willing to work hard to make his supporters proud and his dreams come true.

“It was kind of a long process … coming from this type of region it’s hard trying to get opportunities,” he said.

“Every time I go away I try to represent at my best and try my hardest to put this place on the map.”

Knights recruitment manager Troy Tezet said the club had been keeping close tabs on Will.

After the contract announcement on Wednesday, Mr Tezet said he was a good fit for the club, adding he hoped the transition would be smooth for Will, given Newcastle was more like a big country town than a city.

“For a kid from Port Hedland, Newcastle is probably a good fit,” he said.

“I think it’s probably a bit of a special case with Will. We don’t recruit a lot of external players because we’re a development club so for us to recruit him is a big deal.”

Mr Tezet said the partnership was a credit to Will and his family, adding while the club valued good players, they also wanted to recruit good people.

Sports Services Australia general manager Antony Coorey said there had been interest in Will from several NRL clubs.

Mr Coorey, who mana-ges Will, said despite all the barriers he faced, the 17-year-old just kept pushing through them to chase his dreams.

The league genes are strong in the Finau family, with Will’s older sister Saane also progressing in the sport this year, being selected in the first women’s side to be named as part of the CAS Championships last month.

While the women’s CAS team won’t play a game this year, it ensures Jillaroo selectors will get a look at Saane, who is also going to trials for Tonga next month for selection in a Pacific Test match to be held in Sydney.

She said it proved women in the NRL were progressing and that female players were just as passionate about the sport as their male counterparts.

For Will, who was also name don the under 18s CAS side, he’ll play in Brisbane next month also taking the opportunity to meet with his new side.