Newcastle Knights emerging star Fletcher Sharpe, celebrated his 21st birthday in style on Saturday afternoon, lighting up Magic Round with a hat-trick in his side's 26-point victory over the Rabbitohs.
In just his second year in first grade, Sharpe's captain and coach were both glowing with praise about the young playmaker's talent in the post-match press conference.
"He’s only 21, I think we’re all sort of forgetting that as well," said Kalyn Ponga.
"It’s only his second year in the NRL and it’s not a position he’s familiar with,"
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"He’s a natural footy player, he puts himself in good positions through effort,"
"He’s still learning that position, both on the defensive side and the attack side,"
"His best footy is just footy, just instinctive, eyes-up, the more opportunities he gets in that sort-of position the better."
Sharpe's three-try haul helped the Knights' secure their most comprehensive victory of the season, a fact that was not lost on his teammates.
"I’m happy for him, it's his 21st, he’s had three tries, he’s down there with a smile on his face and it’s important," said Ponga.
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Adam O'Brien was also full of support for Sharpe, however, he was quick to shift the focus back onto the team's goals that are still ahead of them.
"The present we wanted to get him was the two points and he was happy with that," he said.
"We’ve got a six day turnaround,"
"I think we go back to the hotel and enjoy one or two beers together and then an early night,"
"But he understands that, there’ll be a time and a place. But our focus now is to make sure that - without being a grinch - we need to make sure that we’re building on this."
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O'Brien acknowledged that the victory came amidst a difficult period for the club, with team selection being an issue that has been consistently spotlighted by fans and media alike.
"As I’ve said during the week in any media that I’ve done, I wasn’t chopping and changing this year, I was picking and sticking. Not that I did it because everyone wanted me to last year, but very contradictive bunch at the moment you lot," he said.
"I’d rather rely on the guys that were coming back to make the biggest difference than removing people."
Sharpe's modest post-game celebration was well-earned as Newcastle look to build on this form in their return to McDonald Jones stadium in round ten, welcoming a dangerous Gold Coast outfit.