Originally signing on for the Jets in May 2008 on a 1-year deal, Patafta appeared 9 times during the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season, and has featured during the Jets' progression through the AFC Champions League 2009 group stage.

Patafta, 20, captained the Qantas Joeys in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship and is still considered one of the most promising young players in Australia because of his sublime skills and technical ability.

Jets Chief Executive Officer John Tsatsimas was delighted to announce Patafta had agreed to rejoin the club.

"Kaz is obviously a young player with a great deal of potential, and an individual that we are more than happy to have stay on at the Jets," he said.

"Our club has a reputation for developing young talent and, through our coaching staff of Gary van Egmond and Mark Jones, we have certainly been at the forefront of promoting youth development in the Hyundai A-League.

"Certainly Kaz is an exciting young talent and we are only too happy to have him at our club, particularly after he has spent the past year settling in to Newcastle."

He added: "We believe that the re-acquisition of Kaz is certainly a positive step for the club and bodes well for the weeks ahead as the team prepares for the AFC Champions League match in Pohang later this month."

The Jets will depart for Korea on Saturday, 20 June to finalise preparations for their historic AFC Champions League round of 16 clash at Steelyard Stadium against K-League outfit Pohang Steelers.