Hard work pays off for Newcastle Knights rookie of year Brodie Jones

His attention was peaked when he heard mention of the round six Cronulla game, knowing it was Musgrove's first grade debut he was hopeful his mate since school days at Lochinvar had been recognised.

But then came the shock of hearing his name read out.

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"I honestly thought I didn't qualify as I had played seven games the year before," said Jones who played 22 games this season.

"I was shocked, I didn't expect it but it is such a great honour I was stoked."

Musgrove made a terrific debut with his surety under the high ball drawing praise, but round six, April 16, belonged to Jones as he scored his first NRL try, was part of the lead-up to two others including Kalyn Ponga's match-winner, and saved two in Newcastle's 26-22 win over Cronulla at McDonald Jones Stadium.

"To be honest that whole game went so fast, it was just a blur," Jones, who came on and played at right centre for 74 minutes after winger Hymel Hunt was injured in the seventh minute, said.

"I was not used to those sort of minutes. I had been coming off the bench. Even though I played for 70 odd minutes it all just happened so fast.

"It was great to get my first try and to get the win after being on a bit of losing streak.

"Looking back on it, it flew by, it was crazy. I didn't have much time to think, it just all happened."

Among the other key statistics from the game was 23 tackles and it's hard work in defence that Jones thrives on.

While he played centre in his breakout game, he prefers the second-row, but is happiest at lock.

"To be honest I much prefer the middle. I love playing lock in the middle but I'm happy to play wherever the coaches want me to," Jones said.

"I played most of my footy growing up in that middle role.

"I didn't really start transitioning to the second row until I hit first grade pre-seasons.

"I suppose playing in the middle is most natural to me.

"I just love tackling, I love defending. Defence is the thing I love about football.

"You don't make too many tackles out at centre, I'd rather be tackling."

Jones is becoming a favourite with Knights fans and commentators for his no-nonsense approach to the game.

But he is happily oblivious to all the fuss.

"To be honest if I watch replays of games I usually have the volume down or off," he said.

"The coaches cut up footage for you to review and show you what you need to see."

After playing bit parts in his first season, Jones has become an established member of the Knights 17 chalking up 22 games in 2021 including the Knights gutsy loss to Parramatta in the elimination final.

"I guess it was a breakout season and it is a matter of not hanging up the hat and keep striving for more," he said.

"Trying to aim for that starting position, keep striving to be better.

"I'm a little bit disappointed with how the season finished. It would have been nice to win that game and go a bit further.

"You never enjoy losing but we definitely know we gave our all.

"We faced a high level of adversity throughout the season and we did well to get into the eight considering how many injuries and setbacks we had.

"It would have been nice to have the spine playing a bit more.

"It could have changed the outcome of the season if they had have played together more leading into the finals.

"It was certainly a better finish than last year."

Jones said he had enjoyed and benefitted from the Knights extended stay in Queensland as the NRL moved clubs north to continue the season after the COVID lockdown across Sydney and the Hunter.

"You get to know everyone a bit more, get to spend more time around people. I'm probably a little bit further away than all the boys in town so I don't always see them.

"I keep to myself a bit, I'm a bit quiet, but I enjoyed being around everyone."

While negotiating life in the NRL can be a tough, Jones admits it's been great having good mate Brayden Musgrove along for the ride.

"We've known each other since school at Lochinvar, we went to St Joseph's from Year 7 to 12 and played our junior footy together," he said.

"We're good mates and it's good to have someone you've known most your life around."

The two Knights can also bounce their NRL experiences off another St Joseph's boy Canberra Raider Hudson Young.

"We had a pretty handy footy side coming through," Jones said of the trio who played together in the Knights Under-16 team which won the 2014 national championship . "Brayden and Hudson are pretty close so we keep in touch with each other."

As for heading into 2022, Jones is looking forward to eight weeks off and settling into his new house at East Maitland before returning to training in mid-November.