Glance at Ben Taylor and it’s clear that Christian is his father. Put Ben in a Maitland Blacks jumper and the genes run ever stronger.

Though Ben is proud of what his father and three-time premiership winning dad, known as Freak, achieved, he is very much his own man.

The 18-year-old made his first-grade run-on debut in the season-shaping 31-19 win over Lake Macquarie at the Walters Park on Saturday.

His dad presented him the No.9 jersey but apart from saying “have fun” left the laidback apprentice boiler-maker to tread his own path.

“I don’t think of it,” Ben said of the comparisons with his father. “I run my own race. The way I play is not necessary the way he played. I always chat to him after the games and during the week, but on the field I do my thing.”

A supremely gifted fly-half, “Freak” led the Blacks to first-grade premierships in 1994 and 1998, which book-ended three years at the Newcastle Wildfires.

“I have seen videos when I was a bit younger but not much of when he was playing in the top grades,” Ben said. “I used to be ball boy and running the kicking tee out. I have always been around the club and played since I was in under-8s. I couldn’t imagine playing any other sport or for anyone else”

Ben’s mother Kate, who plays in the Blacks women’s team, has been an equally strong influence.

Eligible to play under-19s, Taylor got his chance in the top grade after Adam McCarthy strained the intercostal muscles between his ribs. He remains in doubt for Saturday’s clash with the Waratahs.

“It was a must win game for us but he was calm and pretty cool about it,” coach Mick Hickling said. “Whenever we have called him up to sit on the bench it’s a case of ‘yep no worries’. He never gets stressed and plays what is in front on him. He has a slick pass and that is one of the reasons we were happy to bring him straight in. Against Singleton the week before he came in and scored two tries. He made a couple of snipes around the edges so he is not afraid to back himself.”

Talyor is the second, second generation player behind Jye Estatheo to play first grade this season.

“He and Jye are exactly what we are trying to achieve with our junior programs,” vice president Dan Gollan said.