Thurgate is only 18 and made seven first-team appearances last season for Newcastle.

Centre back Langlois is also 18 and joined the Jets from Broadmeadow Magic.

Simmons has come through the Emerging Jets program, the same as 19-year-old Frendo.

Merrick said the influx of young blood is down to the Emerging Jets, which was launched in 2012.

"It’s a credit to the academy that we brought in-house for the first time last year," he said.

"Before that it was out-sourced to NNSWFF who did a pretty good job.

"Now it’s in-house and Mike Cooper who was the technical director, he’s just moved back to Victoria, and we’ve got Craig Deans running it as well as the women’s team here.

"And then we’ve got Lawrie McKinna and Labi Haliti running the youth team, because Lawrie says he can’t stop coaching.

"He’s the one who decided to bring it in-house and fund it, thanks to the financial support of our owner Martin Lee."