Goalkeeper Noah James and midfielder Jack Simmons are both Newcastle juniors and have featured heavily in youth teams over recent seasons.
 
The pair will tread the path blazed by Angus Thurgate and Pat Langlois, who both signed similar contracts last year.

Jets boss Ernie Merrick said both youngsters displayed enormous potential.

“Noah and Jack have both been around the first team for a while now, and they’ve got what it takes to play at that level,” Merrick said.
 
“Noah trains with us every day and is learning plenty from Lewis [Italiano] and [Glen] Mossy, while Jack is an option anywhere throughout the midfield and keeps the boys on their toes.
 
“It’s good to have young blood in the team, the two boys are lucky enough to have plenty of talented individuals to look up to within the squad and they deserve these contracts.”


 
James has deputised for both Glen Moss and former keeper Jack Duncan on a number of occasions.
 
The 17-year-old featured in a number of pre-season clashes, including the 2-2 draw with Central Coast Mariners back in August.
 
He has now signed a one-year-deal and will play between the sticks for the Jets’ Y-League team this season while training full-time with the senior team.

Meanwhile Simmons, who has played every season with the club bar one since he was nine, has put pen to paper on a massive three-year scholarship.

At just 16, Simmons has already debuted and scored for the first team back in July’s 2-0 win over Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
 
The midfielder has trained with the first team on and off throughout the A-League pre-season, and will be gunning for some first team minutes this season.
 
Jets CEO and Youth Team Coach, Lawrie McKinna was pleased to have the two both players locked in.

“Labi (Haliti) and I have worked closely with both of these boys over the past year, and they’re players with a lot of ability and even more potential,” McKinna said. 
 
“It’s fantastic for the club that we’re able to lock down some of our best youngsters, and it just shows the high regard the Jets are held in by some of our country’s brightest prospects.”