A drop back to the third-tier Ron Massey Cup last season was the catalyst Canterbury cult hero Jayden Okunbor needed to light his path to the NRL.

Okunbor found himself playing park football for Cabramatta less than a year ago but turning out for the Bulldogs last Sunday he twice steamrolled one of the NRL’s greatest of all time in Cameron Smith.

“That drop down last year was the kick in the butt I needed … I told myself I didn’t want to play that level of football anymore,” Okunbor said.