Newcastle Knights forward Brodie Jones is set to make his return to the club's NSW Cup team after undergoing foot surgery in March, which required a two-month recovery period.
The local junior from Cessnock will start at lock as he works his way back towards Justin Holbrook's NRL squad, following the Knights' impressive performance in 2026.
In an interview with the Newcastle Herald, Jones expressed his frustrations tied to being sidelined right at the season's onset due to injury.
"The bone in my left foot that they took out was in pieces so it now feels a lot better than it did," he shared with the publication.
He added, "Being out has been frustrating mentally so it's been a real challenge but it's great to be back."
Currently off-contract for the upcoming season, Jones faces the possibility of leaving the Hunter if an opportunity arises to further his NRL career.
At the age of 28, he also has a contingency plan in case injuries persist or if he does not secure an NRL contract for 2027.
The Newcastle Herald notes that Jones is a skilled golfer who enjoys the sport during his downtime. This could lead him to consider pursuing golf professionally once he steps away from rugby.
"Yeah, there is a potential pathway there in golf that's been spoken about," he remarked.