Newcastle Knights call on Chris Adams to play first game in four years against Melbourne Storm

FOUR years after his fleeting NRL career at Newcastle was brutally cut short, Chris Adams has spent the past week preparing himself for an unlikely second chance.

Chris Adams is relishing his second shot at the big time.

FOUR years after his fleeting NRL career at the Newcastle Knights was brutally cut short by coach Wayne Bennett, Chris Adams has spent the past week preparing himself for an unlikely second chance.

In one of the more remarkable NRL resurrection stories, 29-year-old Adams has been thrown a lifeline by coach Nathan Brown and will pack down opposite the game’s premier hooker, Melbourne captain Cameron Smith, at Hunter Stadium on Sunday despite not having played and NRL game since 2012.

He was not being named in the original 17 for the clash with the Storm but will come off the bench after a week of intensive one-on-one tutoring from Knights assistant Danny Buderus to get him ready for the big challenge.

His current CV consists of just three NRL appearance.

Since he was let go by the club, he has picked up a Country Rugby League player of the year award and led his local club, Lakes United, to a premiership win in the Newcastle domestic competition.

But with current number one hooker Danny Levi being forced to delay back surgery because of an injury to his back-up Tyler Randell, Adams will be an important player for Brown for the remainder of the season even though there are no guarantees after that.

Chris Adams is relishing his second shot at the big time.

Adams is adamant Bennett never gave him the opportunity he worked so hard for when he was striving to established himself at the club back in 2012.

“I never wanted to leave here,” he said.

“When it did happen back in 2013, I believe I should have stayed here but that’s not how it was.

“I played three games and I didn’t have the ability that most guys have. I’ve had to work hard for where I’ve got to and I think if I had a few more games under my belt, I would have been a lot better. “

Not surprisingly, Adams didn’t believe at 29, he would ever get another crack but “weird things happen”.

“I went back to local league and just wanted to play footy the best I could and making Country and all that was a massive achievement for myself,” he said.

“Now, to come back here, I didn’t think it was going to happen, especially at the age I am now.

“I didn’t want to come back just to play reserve grade. I basically didn’t want to be a band aid in that respect.

“I wanted it to be a full opportunity for myself and hopefully, that’s how it pans out.”

Originally published as Newcastle Knights call on Chris Adams to play first game in four years against Melbourne Storm