Kane Evans was always destined to make his presence felt in the NRL, despite the Sydney Roosters youngster’s slow rise through the grades says teammate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

Evans, 23, has long been touted as one of the Roosters’ most promising up and comers.

But, as his fellow Roosters frontrower Dylan Napa was making a name for himself, Evans was still earning his stripes in the NSW Cup, after being named in the NYC team of the year in 2011.

Evans earned the nickname “The Undertaker” in his early days, due to his bullocking runs that sent defenders flying.

His defence was somewhat of a concern though, such that he sought assurances from coach Trent Robinson that he remained a part of the club’s plans before he re-signed through 2017 at the start of last season.

The 192cm, 110kg giant played five games for Fiji at the 2013 World Cup but still struggled to cement his place in the Roosters line-up last season, playing nine games.

But so far in 2015, Evans has become an integral part of the Roosters’ pack, playing all three games and providing vital impact off the bench, including mixing it with the much-vaunted South Sydney pack in round two.

Waerea-Hargreaves has been a key confidante for Evans and the Kiwi international says he always knew Evans, a junior NSW and Australian representative, had what it took to play in the NRL.

“I know it was tough for him there, that he didn’t perhaps come through as quickly as a lot of people hoped,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

“But he persevered and he had a lot of people putting their faith in him.

“The club really believed he could do it and I think you have seen that so far this year.

“Doing that apprenticeship was tough at the time but I’m sure he really learnt a lot and I think it will really bode well for him.

“He has added a lot to the team already this year, he has a big future.”