Junior tennis champ at centre of NRL tug of war

He's the hottest young forward on the open market, but Manly's Liam Knight could have been a professional tennis star.

The 21-year-old is now causing a racket among rival clubs, with the Roosters desperate to sign him.

"Obviously you have those dreams of travelling the world and a different hotel every night", the youngster said.

"I stopped playing when I was about 16, just scored a sponsor, I was going pretty good but obviously football was my priority."

Knight won several junior tournaments and he collided with a tennis bad boy along the way.

"I met Nick Krygios at a tournament in Bathurst when I was 15.

"He played against one of my mates, almost lost. He was a good guy too."

But Knight is no angel either.

"I think I broke about three rackets in one match once."

Knight has also taught himself to play left handed. It's one simple life lesson on an incredible journey to the NRL, one that started a long way from his current home on the Northern Beaches; in Alice Springs.

"I moved around a lot when I was younger. My mum passed away at a young age, when I was five."

From the Red Centre he bounced from Sydney, Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, the Central Coast before finally settling in Sydney when he joined the Sea Eagles in 2011.

"When I was younger I was unsettled and always had to make new friends. It prepared me for meeting new people."

The talented forward could be on the move again. Yet to make his debut, Knight has already attracted a rich offer from the Roosters.

"Manly is my home, I've played my juniors at Manly, I'm happy at Manly."