Former Jets assistant coach gets call up to Newcastle Knights next season

Now that moment has arrived for the accountant, who is a partner at MPK Accounting in Montgomery Street, Kogarah.

Since 2013, he has been an assistant coach with the Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup.

The Jets are a feeder team for Cronulla Sharks in the NRL.

Pizanias, 45, of Blakehurst, recently got a phone call from newly appointed Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown, who lives in the shire.

Since taking over as the new head coach at the Knights, Brown has shifted to Newcastle.

That phone call from Brown paved the way for Pizanias to be appointed on a part-time basis with the Knights for the 2016 season.

Preseason training has started and Pizanias is working with Brown and his former Dragons teammate Mick Potter on the Knights coaching team.

He travels twice a week to Newcastle for training and there will be plenty of hours assessing videos and game-day work throughout the season.

Pizanias said he knew Nathan Brown when they played at the St George Dragons in the early '90s.

"I was playing President's Cup and then I was graded in 1991-92 at Saints, and Nathan was then in Jersey Flegg," Pizanias said.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity that Nathan and Newcastle have given me and my family.

"The Newtown Jets have been really good to me as well and it was a tough phone call to make to the NSW Cup coach Greg Matterson and the Jets general manager Terry Rowney to tell them I was headed to the Knights.

"I will never forget what Newtown has done for me and how they have helped me."

Pizanias has strong ties in the St George district and rugby league community.

He went to James Cook Boys High School, Kogarah, where former Dragons coach Brian Smith taught physical education.

Pizanias played in the St George junior league with Brighton Seagulls.

"I grew up following the Dragons," he said.

After his graded days at the Dragons in 1991-92, he played with the Newtown Jets from 1993-96 in the NSW Rugby League Metropolitan Cup.