TYSON Frizell has been everything we've asked of him at the Knights, and more.
The respect that he has around the club and what he does as a professional is second to none; how he looks after himself, how he prepares for games. It's a credit to him. He loves it and he has been a great addition.
What a career he has had to be playing his 200th game this week, and against the club where it all started - the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
I remember seeing Tyson play under-20s at the Sharks and he was just a little bull.
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He was a bit bigger than everyone in the 20s and was bumping everyone off.
He finally got his chance in first-grade at the Sharks and then got an even better one at the Dragons, and that's where he just took off.
He was so explosive and aggressive.
He is one heck of a player when he gets going.
I've played Origin with him, and we went on a Kangaroos tour together and played in a World Cup.
He is great to have by your side, and even more so because you don't have to tackle him. He is a ball of granite to tackle.
On his day he is up there with the best in the world as a back-rower. When he plays at rep level, he goes to another level. He is suited for that level and hopefully he gets picked in those sides in the near future.
He seems quiet but he has really opened up the last couple of years, talking wise and as a leader, just being that older head.
When he talks, everyone listens.
It's because of how he trains and how he conducts himself. He is an ultimate professional. And you don't get to play 200 games if you're not that.
I'm so happy and proud of him. He deserves it.
I like to think I played a part in him coming to Newcastle. I only had a little yarn to him but I said he would love it up here; the coaching staff are great, he'd enjoy the lifestyle and we had some quality players in Kalyn, the Saifiti brothers and so on.
He obviously saw some potential and he has been a huge signing for the Knights. He knows how to win footy games and a lot of our younger guys have been looking up to him to see what it takes to be a rep player, what it commands every week.
Tyson is determined to win a premiership and it's everyone's goal at the Knights, that's what you play for. The last year and a half he has been with us, we've come a long way as a footy side. We're well on our way if we keep our heads down and Tyson is going to be a big part of that if we get there.
I reckon the big fella will have another few years in the game, at least. As long as he has the desire, he could keep going towards 300 games.
We've got a big thing at the club that any milestones, if people have them, we want to make sure they remember it. I'm sure the boys will get around Tyson and turn up for him on Friday.
