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Jacob Kiraz has impressed since leaving Newcastle but Knights coach Adam O'Brien insists parting ways with the winger was the right call at the time.
Coach Adam O'Brien has defended Newcastle's decision to cut Jacob Kiraz, who played the best game of his young career in Canterbury's NRL 24-10 win over the Knights on Sunday.
Kiraz joined the Knights on a development contract last year but was stuck behind Starford To'a, Enari Tuala, Hymel Hunt and Dominic Young in the wing stakes.
The Knights let Kiraz go ahead of the 2022 season to leave room for one-time Queensland State of Origin winger Edrick Lee, who had recovered from a long-term foot injury.
Kiraz subsequently made the move to the Bulldogs, where he has played 10 games and firmed as one of the most promising rookies of the season.
He scored three tries against the Knights in a game-defining performance but O'Brien stood by the club's decision to part ways with Kiraz, insisting it was the right move at the time.
"He had a really good day. You're going to have ones who come back and hurt you," O'Brien said.
"At the time, Edrick (Lee) was coming good with that foot. We'd invested a fair sum in him and he didn't have a spot in the team.
"Anyone put in that situation back then would probably have wanted to fit Edrick in the team."
O'Brien admitted Kiraz's sudden development into a bona fide first-grader had surprised him.
"If I'm really honest, I didn't foresee him jumping to the levels he has this quickly. I didn't spot that," he said.
"But good luck to Kiraz. There's no sour grapes on that."
Kiraz is a favourite of interim coach Mick Potter, who has played the 20-year-old on the wing in each of his nine games in charge since taking over from Trent Barrett mid-season.
Potter was familiar Kiraz before replacing Barrett, having coached against Kiraz in reserve grade.
"When I was with Mounties, when Canterbury played us, I had to ask someone who that player was, because he was so elusive," Potter said.
"It was good to see him get three tries today."
Potter said Kiraz was now reaping the rewards for persevering with his NRL dream despite failing to make first grade at North Queensland and Newcastle.
"It's a fantastic story that he's going so well," he said.