TERENCE Seu Seu consider yourself seen.
The 19-year-old hooker who couldn't even break into NSW Premier League last season is set win a spot in Newcastle's NRL side for the opening round clash against the Bulldogs after starring in the Knights' trial wins over Penrith and Cronulla.
With NSW and Test rake Danny Buderus suspended and regular replacement Luke Quigley picking up an ankle injury last night which could sideline him for two weeks, Newcastle coach Brian Smith said Seu Seu's blinding performances had earned him an NRL debut.
"Terence Seu Seu has played himself into first grade I can tell you that right now," said Smith. "
He is a player that boy."
A stunned Seu Seu was speechless after hearing Smith's accolade, but quickly put pressure back on the new coach and urged him to hurry up and finalise the teenager's contract negotiations.
Seu Seu is off contract this season and although he knows he'll be second-choice hooker behind Buderus, he is desperately keen to stick around and learn from the best.
"That's good news, I have been waiting for him to sign me during the week too," said Seu Seu when told of Smith's compliment. "I come off contract this year and hope to sign up for another couple of years.
"I played Jersey Flegg all last year, didn't play Premier League because I couldn't get a crack but I've got a chance at first grade this year and I'm taking it with both hands.
"Danny is the number one, he is the one I look up to and watch videos on him. (Buderus) is the best, anytime you get to work with the best you can't give up that opportunity.
"I want to learn from the best and get some more experience. Anything he says goes for me."
Smith said Seu Seu wasn't the only youngster likely to make his debut this season, with the veteran coach prepared to tinker with his lineup until he gets the mix right.
The former Eels boss was delighted with wingers Akuila Uate and James McManus against the Sharks, and said he would continue to trial players in various positions in the regular season.
"We've got some sorting out to do between now and playing the Bulldogs in a fortnight," he said. "
We are still sloppy and have got a truckload of improvement in us. We've got to find some better ways of structuring and performing in attack. That was a bit embarrassing at times there tonight.
"We have got to find our right crew to start with. Whatever it is to start with it ain't going to be the same within two or three weeks you can bet your life. We'll use a lot of players in the first month or six weeks."
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,,21322472-10389,00.html
-Sounds like these quotes are from the NBN interviews... antonius... ?
-First bold citation -- an enormous wrap from someone like Smithy after only a couple of first grade trials.
-Second bold citation -- sounds like Smithy has anything but set in concrete his approach to the contentious issues like fullback and so forth. I've seen this sort of thing for him in the past. He will tweak for the first 4-to-6 weeks (both in personnel and positions) in order to get the combination right. If it means sacrificing cohesion or even a game or two early, it's a small price to pay for hitting on the best possible line-up for the rest of the year.
. All juniors are happy to serve their time as understudy learning from the best. But there will come a time when Seu Seu will want to step out from the shadow and be recognised as something other than "Buderus' understudy". Buderus just turned 29, so we can guess that he'll want to play on until he is 32 (or maybe even longer). That is four seasons where Seu Seu will have an extremely hard job in ousting the incumbent hooker, and in all likelihood the captain of the club. 
