Ngarima recently signed a four-year contract with the Dragons after starring with the Canberra Raiders' Harold Matthews squad in 2019.

He backed up the long-term contract by winning the Australia Secondary Schools Rugby League Championships with the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges team earlier this month.

JC's dad, Peter, said it had been a massive year for his son.

"We had the Country Championships last October, and he was given a shot at trialling with the Raiders," he said. "He was selected in their 25-man squad, and started every game for them this year.

"He's now signed the four-year contract with St George Illawarra, and they've given him the option to play either in Sydney or Wollongong. We obviously picked Wollongong.

"The Raiders also offered him a deal, but they didn't really give him a plan for the future. The Dragons came on board, gave us a plan for the future, and are looking at him for under 20s and potentially first grade.

"We like what they're offering, what they've got to develop him as a player, so we picked them."

Mr Ngarima said the experience in Redcliffe was "awesome".

"He enjoyed it because he got to play with a lot of the boys he's been playing against since primary school," he said. "It was a really great bunch of kids.

"He was a little bit upset with himself because he knew he had the chance to crack the Australian merit team. It's something he wants to work on for next time."

JC's work ethic is what keeps him at the top of his game.

"He's a really humble kid," Mr Ngarima said. "I feel sorry for him sometimes, because he doesn't get the usual teenage experience.

"He doesn't get to go to the parties, he's usually working really hard at the gym.

"He also does what he can for his local clubs. We got back home pretty early on the Saturday morning from Redcliffe, and JC was back playing club footy that afternoon.

"He doesn't think he's a superstar, and I think that's his biggest asset."

Now JC will focus on next year's Harold Matthews competition with the Steelers.

"St George Illawarra told him he didn't have to play Harold Matts next year, but he loves a challenge," Mr Ngarima said. "He wants to compete with the best.

"They've told us to come up for training twice a week, and there are families that can assist us with getting him there."