Towering young prop Pasami Saulo is set to become the Newcastle Knights’ 300th debutant in Auckland on Friday night with coach Nathan Brown poised to dump Josh King from his squad for the Warriors game.
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Saulo, a Maitland junior who only turned 20 early last week, will come into the 17 for the clash after several strong performances in the club’s NSW Cup side over the past month.
It’s understood King will pay the price for some indifferent recent form that included a couple of errors with the football in the loss to Wests Tigers last Friday night at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Brown hinted last week Saulo, a former Australian Schoolboy and NSW Under 18’s star, was on the verge of a call-up into the top grade after putting together several eye-catching performances in the NSW Cup.
He was one of the Knights’ best in an upset last round win over Mounties, scoring a crucial try that broke a deadlock late in the game.
Brown is not expected to make any other changes when the squad is announced later today with injured skipper Mitchell Pearce now appearing almost certain to play against the Warriors in his 250th NRL game.