Knights hooker Chris Randall vows to establish himself as a long-term NRL player

"I don't want to go back to reserve grade now," the home-grown hooker declared after Saturday's 20-6 triumph against Sydney Roosters at the SCG.

Judging by his largely unsung contribution in the season-opener, Randall can rest assured he won't be returning to the NSW Cup any time soon.

In an action-packed 63-minute stint, Randall effected a team-high 50 tackles without a single miss, gained 27 metres from two runs and produced two astute kicks out of dummy-half.

It was a performance that provided reassuring evidence Newcastle will cope in the absence of first-choice hooker Jayden Brailey, who is likely to be missing for half the season after recent surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon.

A self-confessed "late starter", Randall debuted for the Knights as a 24-year-old in 2020, making a phenomenal 71 tackles against Penrith in his first top-grade game.

He has now made 13 appearances in the NRL, but for the first time he has a chance to establish himself in Newcastle's No.1 side.

"I feel like I've been ready for first grade for a while now," he told the Newcastle Herald. "It does take a while.

"I've only been full-time for a couple of years. Before that I had a year of NSW Cup.

"I'm 26, so a late starter, but I do feel like I'm ready now and I belong.

"So it is a good chance to prove myself now.

"I'll be doing my best to make sure that happens. I don't want to go back to reserve grade now."

Randall said he was "shattered" when the extent of Brailey's injury was confirmed but also recognised that he was the "next man up", to borrow one of coach Adam O'Brien's favourite expressions.

"Everyone loves Brails, including me," he said. "He means everything to this club and to have his second big injury in a couple of years, it's not a good thing at all.

"But look, I've just got to fill his boots as best I can. 'Adzy' [O'Brien] has shown a bit of faith in me to do that, so hopefully I can get the job done while Brails is out and see what happens after that."

Playing in the NRL is a dream come true for Randall, who just four years ago was running around with Lakes United in the district competition and working as a formwork carpenter.

"I didn't get called into NSW Cup to do a pre-season until I was 22," he recalled.

"If you're not making under-20s and things like that, I was just playing first grade for Lakes and that's all I had my mind on pretty much. So when I got a chance, I just wanted to make the most of it."

Randall rated the win against the highly rated Roosters the best of his career and hopes to follow it up with a victory against Wests Tigers at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.

A bumper crowd is expected and Randall is eagerly anticipating the roar when the Knights run down the tunnel for kick-off.

"I can't wait," he said.

"I've only played one home game so far.

"I started in that game, against the Dragons [in 2020] and we had a good win [42-18].

"It was a great feeling that day, especially running out onto the home pitch.

"I've been going to that stadium to watch the Knights since I was a kid, so to be on the other side of the fence, playing for the team I've supported my whole life, it means so much to me. It's pretty special."

Knights physical-performance manager Hayden Knowles, who has previously worked with a host of NRL clubs and the NSW Origin team during a career spanning more than 20 years, rates Randall the fittest player he has encountered.

"I've always been naturally fit, but Hayden coming to the club has probably pushed me to a new level," Randall said. "We had a really tough pre-season but we're thriving on it."

Contracted to Newcastle until the end of next season, Randall hopes there will eventually be positions for both he and Brailey in the top 17.

"I'll just be hoping to keep a spot, even on the bench," he said.

"I think I can still offer something for the team, even once Brails is back."