Anthony Tupou is planning to live his childhood dream of running out for Newcastle in the NRL as a weapon for coach Nathan Brown to use off the bench.
The 33-year-old former Test forward has inked a one-year deal with the Knights, bolstering the young squad's experience after the loss of Korbin Sims to Brisbane.
Tupou sees himself in the middle of the Knights' pack, as the team looks to improve on a dismal 2016 featuring only one win.
"Everyone wants to start but I think Browny would have me coming off the bench and playing that impact role. I'd like that," Tupou said.
Tupou played 234 games for the Sydney Roosters and Cronulla before spending last year in England in the Super League with Wakefield.
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In the twilight of his career, Tupou is delighted to be back where it had all started.
"Joey Johns and Paul Harrogan, that was my era of doing laps around (the then) Marathon Stadium," Tupou said.
"We didn't miss a game, me and my young brothers.
"We'd be playing footy out on the front lawn and pretending we were those blokes.
"We lived and breathed the Knights when we were young."
