After finishing the 2025 NRL season in last place, the Newcastle Knights will need to rely on the next generation of young players coming through the ranks as they aim to return to the finals under Justin Holbrook and claim the first premiership since 2001.
Over the past couple of years, the likes of Cody Hopwood, Connor Votano, Fletcher Hunt, Fletcher Sharpe and Jermaine McEwen have been introduced to the NRL after successfully progressing through the club's ranks.
So...who's next?
9. Diesel Hagan
A member of the 2025 Under-18s Country squad, Diesel Hagan has been earmarked as the long-term No.9 of the Newcastle Knights and has been a class above other dummy-halves during the junior representative competitions.
While he is still at the beginning of his player career, the Denman Devils junior has been with the club since 2023 and was previously the Knights' Under-17s Harold Matthews Cup captain and won the Kurt Gidley Player of the Year award in 2024.
A workhorse in defence, Hagan also has strong ball distribution and can exploit defenders with ease around the ruck, which helps break the game wide open.
I often scratch my head and wonder why clubs that are no chance for the eight do not admit that once they have passed the half-way point of the season, and start giving their youngsters some decent game time.