It can be difficult following in the footsteps of a famous relative, but teenage debutant David Moody has made his uncle proud.

NSW has struggled to 6-189 in a rain-shortened first day of the top-of-the-table Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia in Newcastle, and it was Moody who did the damage.

Medium-pacer Moody, the nephew of former Test allrounder Tom Moody, started the day expecting to be 12th man but ended the day as the unlikely bowling hero after getting figures of 3-37 off 14 overs.

“It was interesting hearing I was going to be playing, and hearing I would be debuting against New South Wales who are a very, very strong side was intimidating, but I was glad I could rise to the challenge,” said Moody.

“Guys like Nathan Coulter-Nile just told me to hit the right areas for long enough because even the best players make mistakes, and I was glad I was able to do that.

“It was a fairly heavy track but it was beautiful to run in on and bowl so it wasn’t too difficult to get the rhythm going which is always nice.

“The pitch dried out later and was probably better to bat on. If (the batting side) can get through the first session there might be a few runs in it.”

19-year-old Moody started his first-class career in memorable fashion, having opener Scott Henry caught behind for 17.

He then dismissed the in-form Nic Maddinson for 11 in just his third over, before claiming the wicket of Kurtis Patterson (35).

NSW were on the back foot from the opening over of the innings with paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile clean bowling Ryan Carters (2).

Coulter-Nile then dismissed Blues captain Moises Henriques for 27, while spinner Ashton Agar chimed in with the wicket of Sean Abbott (26) as the Blues slipped to 6-149.

Peter Nevill has ended the day unbeaten on 49 with Steve O’Keeffe on 18.

NSW captain Nevill offered praise for Moody and the WA attack, but believes his side will have the opportunity to hit back with the ball.

“It is one of those wickets where there are still deliveries that do a bit more, so it is a bit of a challenging pitch to bat on,” he said.

“The pitch just had enough in it for the bowlers and I thought they bowled quite well.

“He (Moody) was impressive, getting some late outswing, and bowling in a very good area.”

The result of this match is likely to go a long way to deciding the Shield finalists.