It took less than one season for Michael Witt to show he was made of the right stuff.

Witt was thrown straight from the frying pan and into the fire in 2003, taking over the famous Parramatta No.7 jersey previously worn by the likes of Peter Sterling.

He finished up playing 17 games in a Parramatta side which won only 11 times.

Two of those victories came courtesy of Witt’s right boot.

The young Queenslander, with ice running through his veins, converted late tries in consecutive weeks to gift the Eels victory, including an after-the-siren conversion against the New Zealand Warriors.

Witt was rewarded with a long-term contract and earmarked as a future Queensland halfback, taking part in the Emerging Maroons squad.

In 2004, Witt appeared in another 10 games but by season’s end he went looking for a fresh start, gaining a release from his Parramatta contract to sign with Manly.

The classy young half/five-eighth continued his rugby league education under another former halfback Des Hasler, playing the majority of the season in the number six jersey.

His goalkicking also filled a huge void at Manly, helping the Sea Eagles to the finals.