In his 24 NRL games, Lamb has played exclusively as five-eighth, but Knights coach Nathan Brown has made it quite clear new signing Connor Watson will get first crack at the pivot role next season.

That leaves Lamb, his long-time scrumbase partner Jack Cogger and former NSW Origin representative Trent Hodkinson vying for the job of first receiver.

In rugby league’s modern era, there is often little difference in the job descriptions of half and five-eighth, who are just right- or left-side playmakers. But Knights coach Nathan Brown wants his halfback to become a more traditional and dominant ball-player next season.   

“Connor’s got a lot of pace so we’ll be looking to get him the ball and get him running,” Lamb said.

“The half, whoever it is, can direct traffic a bit more and the guys like Connor and Kalyn Ponga, who’ve got the pace and footwork, they’ll be more ball runners than passers. The halfback’s job will be to shift the ball to them wide on the edges, because they can hurt teams.”

Lamb said he would welcome that responsibility but was taking nothing for granted.

“Hokko’s still training hard and he brings that much experience,” Lamb said. “He’s not going to lay down and let someone just take his spot. And then there’s Jack Cogger as well … so there’s plenty of people who can play half.”

Thrown in at the deep end as a 19-year-old debutant, Lamb has survived a sink-or-swim initiation.

In his first two top-grade games, Newcastle were thrashed 38-0 and 62-0 by the Roosters and Cronulla respectively.

Last season he was heartbroken after a costly late error in a 20-18 loss to Canterbury at Belmore, yet bounced back to star in consecutive wins against St George Illawarra, the Warriors and Parramatta.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “You have highs and lows, and I’ve experienced both and it helps you understand how hard it is to win, and how much you cherish the wins when they come.

“It was a tough year, but I enjoyed it and the main thing now is to play consistent football.”

As for the prospect of Pearce joining Newcastle, Lamb will deal with that when, or if, he has to.

“He’s a quality player, he’s played Origin, he’s won a premiership,” Lamb said.

“His experience would be second to none, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen there, so we,’ll just go with the flow.”