Off the back of an NRL premiership with the Melbourne Storm, Slade Griffin arrived at the nib Newcastle Knights this week to start pre-season training.
The 26-year-old had a light session on Tuesday, getting to know all his new teammates.
“You usually know someone… from playing with them in junior rep or something but I didn’t know anyone here so it kind of feels like my first day at school,” smiled Griffin.
“Everyone has been great and welcomed me with open arms, there is a good group of young lads here so I'm really looking forward to making some good friends.”
Griffin admits he will always cherish his nine years at Melbourne, capped off by the 2017 premiership, but is excited to start the next chapter of his playing career.
“It was a very special time and I've got a lot of close friends down there and that's a memory I’ll be able to share forever, but I'm really looking forward to my time in Newcastle," Griffin said.
“I'm just getting to the age where I want to test myself and see what I can do with my career.”
The new recruit knew it was an opportunity he had to take.
“Newcastle suits me down to a tee because I grew up in a small mining town back in Greymouth (New Zealand),” Griffin stated.
“The Knights actually played a charity game there after the Pike River Mine disaster, so that was really great of the Club.”
Griffin can play a utility role, but is looking to make more of an impact at hooker.
“I would like to get some more minutes at hooker,” he said.
“I think Danny (Levi) and I are different players and we could play different roles for the team, in the same position.
