Newcastle Knights legend Tony Butterfield wants the club to find its new Leo Dynevor after captain and halfback Mitchell Pearce went down with injury last weekend.

Dynevor famously replaced the injured Andrew Johns during the 1997 season with the unknown playmaker helping Newcastle to the pointy end of the table before Johns returned to lead them to an unheralded premiership.

“Has the loss of Mitchell Pearce exposed a vulnerability in the Knights’ player reserves?” Butterfield wrote for Newcastle Herald.

“Firstly, you can’t easily replace a player of his calibre. Secondly, his generalship and on-field bearing will be sorely missed, potentially costing games in the process until his return. Not much upside, unfortunately.

“Alternatively, like the Knights did in 1997, can coach Nathan Brown find a diamond in the rough, in the style of a Leo Dynevor? 

“Leo was the replacement extraordinaire when champion Andrew Johns was injured in the pre-season. All seemed lost, but of the nine games Joey missed, Leo steered us to six wins and third on the ladder.

“Leo ended up playing 19 games that season, including a crucial cameo off the bench in the 17-12 preliminary final win against North Sydney.

“Like the ’97 team, I think there are enough senior players and talented youngsters in Newcastle’s current squad to recalibrate responsibilities and make a good fist of it.”