Brock Lamb, that is, the Maitland-born five-eighth who debuted for the Knights last year at the age of 19 and in many ways exemplified their whole campaign.

In his debut against the Roosters, the Knights were outclassed 38-0.

A week later, Lamb was on the receiving end of a 62-0 hammering from Cronulla – the heaviest defeat Newcastle had ever suffered on home turf. Adding injury to insult, in his third top-grade game, a 20-12 loss to Wests Tigers, he suffered torn ankle ligaments which required surgery, ending his season.

It would be hard to imagine a more daunting initiation in senior football, yet far from being overawed, Lamb relished every minute of it.

And for the past six months his sole focus has been on getting back out there, challenging himself to become a first-team regular.

“It matured me a lot last year, I think, going through the injuries and the adversity I faced,’’ he told the Newcastle Herald.

“It’s all been for the greater, and I know I’ve come out of it a lot stronger.

“Personally I think I’m talking a lot more and I’m taking control a lot more.

“So it’s a real positive for me and it’s given me a lot of confidence to play my natural game.’’

Regardless of the unexpected drama that eliminated Jarrod Mullen from contention, Lamb had his sights set on Newcastle’s No.6 jersey – which he will wear in Sunday’s season-opener against the Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium.

Even if Mullen had been available, it appeared coach Nathan Brown was leaning towards picking him as a bench utility to make way for Lamb, a junior star and former Australian Schoolboys representative.

“That’s always the goal, to play first grade,’’ Lamb said.

“Everyone at the club thinks the same way, no matter what position they play.

“I’ve just trained as hard as I can to give myself a chance. There’s been plenty of pressure from the other boys, too, which is good, because it makes us all train harder.’’

To prepare himself, Lamb has hit the weights in the pre-season and will cast a bigger shadow in 2017.

“I think I played my first game last year around 85 kilos, and I’m now sitting around 90 or 91,’’ he said.

“That’s given me a lot more confidence in defence. I can back myself to make my tackles without injuries.’’

The nervous rookie of 2016 appeared a distant memory in Newcastle’s 44-0 trial thrashing of Canberra two weeks ago, when Lamb and halves partner Trent Hodkinson relished playing on the front foot. 

“It was a massive positive, the Canberra game,’’ Lamb said.

“Obviously it was only a trial and there’s always stuff you have to work on, but it was just what we needed heading into round one.’’

Hodkinson describes Lamb as “an old head on young shoulders”.

The harsh lessons of last season should eventually stand him in good stead.