After being invited by the club to trial for the squad of 40 in August last year, Raveneau successfully made it through after they cut the side twice down to 25.

His mother Kiely Smith said training started around November 3 last year.

“Being in the squad opens up so many opportunities for Tyrone. He is already involved in the Rugby League Targeted Sports Program at Hunter Sports High in Newcastle but the Knights focus on education as well as the sport,” she said.

Raveneau’s side is already in round six of the competition for 2015 and he said the team had been doing “alright”.

“We have nine rounds in the season and we’ve lost a few, won a few and drawn but we could be doing better. My favourite game was played on the weekend just gone against Cronulla, it was a really physical game, really challenging, which is great,” Raveneau said.

His positions are wing and sometimes fullback, so Raveneau’s education is focused around defence.

“We learn a lot of things like where to put your head in a tackle, how to tackle and how to work as a team when you’re defending. It is all very interesting and I’m looking forward to learning a lot more before I turn 18,” he said.

At the weekend, Raveneau’s side will face Illawarra.

“It shouldn’t be too difficult. We are hoping for a win and have been training hard each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”

As well as education and being able to play the game he loves at a representative level, Raveneau has also made friends who are like-minded.

“It’s been really enjoyable moving to Newcastle and making a heap of new friends who also play footy. I miss Moree but hopefully one day I can play professional NRL for the Knights,” he said.

Smith extended her thanks to Moree Junior Rugby League and Todd Mitchell for always checking up on Raveneau’s progress.

“I want to thank my family, my coaches and Floyd Tighe and Yeena Thompson, who used to live in Moree but now live in Newcastle, for letting me stay at their house during the holidays,” Raveneau said.

In 2013 Raveneau made the under 14s Newcastle school boys representative team. He did the same for the under 15s in 2014.

“We are very proud of Tyrone. He was only home for two weeks during the holidays because he finished training on December 19 and had to go back on January 2 for training but during that two weeks home he would do his own training sessions, that’s how dedicated he is.  His father and I go to Newcastle or Sydney nearly every weekend to watch him,” Smith said.