The third-eldest of four talented siblings will make his NRL debut in Sunday’s season-opener against Gold Coast at CBus Stadium. 

And as was the case in their Raymond Terrace backyard while they were growing up, the 22-year-old centre will have Chanel alongside him on Newcastle’s left edge.

Speaking to Fairfax Media, Pat revealed that new-found dietary discipline was the key to his improvement after a frustrating 2015 campaign in which he showed few signs of progressing from NSW Cup ranks.

“I’ve lost a bit of weight,’’ he said. “I’ve dropped down from 111 kilos to 101. I’ve just been watching what I eat and training hard.’’

Mata’utia said Newcastle’s conditioning staff had been strictly monitoring his skinfolds.

“There’s no hiding from them,’’ he said. “I think 111 was a bit too big. If I’d have stayed at that, I would have ended up in the front row.’’

Pat said he and Chanel had been playing alongside each other since they used to team up against Peter, now at St George Illawarra, and Sione in backyard footy.

“Usually it went one older brother, and one younger brother,’’ he said. “So it was Sione and Pete, and me and Chanel. 

“Me and Chanel have played with each other coming up through the juniors, so we know each other’s games.’’

Pat’s opportunity has arisen largely because Sione, who became the youngest-ever Kangaroos representative in 2014 at the age of 18, has a one-game suspension to serve.

“I’d like to play with both of them, Sione and Chanel, but Sione’s going to miss round one,’’ Pat said.

“As long as I get to play with one of them, I’m pretty happy. 

“I can’t wait to play with him this weekend.’’

Knights officials will fly the boys’ mother, Matalena, to the Gold Coast for Sunday’s game to celebrate the occasion.

“She’s excited,’’ Pat said. “She’s been praying and waiting for me to get a game.’’

Only a handful of families in rugby league history have produced four brothers to play first grade.

English imports Sam, Luke, Tom and George Burgess have been latter-day superstars with South Sydney. 

Almost a century ago, the 

Norman brothers – Ray, Rex, Roy and Bernard – played for now-defunct Annandale.

The Quinlivan clan produced five siblings – Alan, Clint, Jack, Leon and Oscar – who played first grade for Souths, Easts, Canterbury and University across the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s.

Bulldogs legends Steve, Peter and Chris Mortimer had an unheralded younger brother, Glenn, who played 30 games for Cronulla.