ASHLEY Gordon had scored his last scintillating try for the Newcastle Knights, and landed his last sideline conversion, long before Caitlan Johnston was born.
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But the man Knights fans will always remember as "Flash" shares a remarkable synergy with Johnston, a 20-year-old from Belmont who now has the opportunity to follow in his pioneering footsteps.
Way back in 1987, when the NSWRL cleared the way for a team representing Newcastle to enter the world's premier rugby league competition, the first player Knights officials recruited was Gordon, a skinny 18-year-old from South Newcastle.
Thirty-four years later, there was a sense of deja vu when the Knights announced that Johnston, another Indigenous player, would be the first signing in their inaugural NRLW team.
It was a proud moment for both Johnston and Gordon, who played a role in the formative years of her career.
"I think any time an Indigenous or disadvantaged player gets recognised as being a big part of a club and its future, it sits really well with me," Gordon said.
"I'm sure we're in good hands with Caitlan. Hopefully she'll be playing for the Knights for another 10 years or so."
Gordon is one of countless Aboriginal stars who have brought fans to their feet at McDonald Jones Stadium.
"I think we'll all go down as very attacking players, who people come to watch," he said. "We play an eyes-up brand of footy with a bit of flair. Hopefully Caitlan and the girls can continue that."
Gordon's advice to Johnston, from one foundation player to another, was to enjoy the experience and embrace the underdog label.
"I think when the Knights started out in 1988, we probably didn't appreciate the magnitude of it all," he said.
"We were just playing and training, but we sit back now and understand how important those early years were.
"It might be a bit like that with these girls. They probably won't realise how big an honour it is until later on."
While the hastily assembled Knights are likely to start as outsiders in this year's expanded NRL competition, Gordon was confident they could cause their share of upsets, just as their male counterparts did in 1988.
"Don't underestimate the home-crowd support," he said. "That will be a 10- or 12-point advantage for them."
Johnston, who played with Sydney Roosters last year and represented the Prime Minister's XIII, was eagerly awaiting Newcastle's first training session under new coach Blake Green on Monday.
"It's a great honour," she said of being the first player to sign with the Knights.
"I've played for Newcastle in Tarsha Gale Cup [under-18s], so I think to be part of our first NRLW side is going to be massive. It probably hasn't really hit me yet.
"It's a great thing for our community, all the young girls growing up here, and I'm excited to see how we'll go. People might be underestimating us, but I'm confident we'll do well."
