Former Mackay junior on track to be the best fullback at Newcastle Knights.

Former Mackay junior on track to be the best fullback at Newcastle Knights. MICHAEL CHAMBERS

RUGBY LEAGUE: Robbie O'Davis is arguably the best fullback the Newcastle Knights has seen, but he is hoping that changes with a new signing joining the club next season.

O'Davis was a key part of the Knights' 1997 grand final win, scoring two tries and winning the Clive Churchill Medal.

Every ten years, the club votes the best player of a position and O'Davis has had fullback covered for the past 30 years.

With a new Knight joining Newcastle next season however, O'Davis is hopeful to be knocked off his perch.

"I want to be sitting here in 10 years time and hear Kalyn Ponga be named," he said.

O'Davis has taken a step back from Newcastle Knights in his NRL retirement.

"I don't have anything to do with the club but I just want to work with him (Ponga) because he's such a good kid," he said.

Both Ponga and O'Davis come from a touch football background.

Related story: NRL: Coote watches Ponga "nipping at my toes"

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O'Davis was Australian touch captain for three years and Ponga made many representative teams whilst playing with the Mackay Touch Association.

"I'm really looking forward to just working with him," O'Davis said.

Newcastle Knights premiership-winning fullback, Robbie O'Davis will work with Mackay's Kalyn Ponga next season.

O'Davis also has something in common with another Mackay junior, Dane Gagai, and not just Newcastle colours.

Gagai won the Wally Lewis medal after this year's State of Origin series while O'Davis won it back in 1997.

"He'll (Gagai) be centre for State of Origin for sure," O'Davis said.

O'Davis has also backed predictions of Gagai donning a green and gold jersey.

"You don't win the Wally Lewis medal and not play for Australia," he said.

O'Davis played eight Tests for Australia himself, 12 Origins for Queensland and was a loyalist to Newcastle Knights, capping 223 games, scoring 73 tries and playing in two grand finals in 1997 and 2001.

O'Davis is no stranger to the Mackay region either.

He visits every year for a charity golf day and to catch up with former teammate Brett Dallas.

His ties to the region don't stop there.

O'Davis played State of Origin with Sarina rugby league legend Dale Shearer and roomed with Wendell Sailor.

"He (Shearer) was one of those players where I used to think when he run the ball he was only running at half pace, but he would be setting himself up to get through the defenders," O'Davis said.

He also keeps an eye on the Intrust Super Cup for up and coming players, with ties to the QCCS Mackay Cutters.

"My nieces boyfriend, Rex Johnson, played for the Cutters for a while," he said.

Johnson last played for the Cutters in 2015 and is now a Newcastle Rugby League premiership-winning halfback playing in the NSW Cup Squad.