He'd gone to O'Connor to train with Belconnen United and joined in with his soon-to-be Sharks teammates thinking it was soccer.

But he loved his return to rugby league - having last played under-15s in Wagga Wagga - as well as the Sharks players.

Not even a worldwide pandemic shutting down the Sharks last year stopped Amponn-Nyamekye from pulling on the jersey in 2021.

Although he was a little shocked to be playing first grade.

But six games into his senior career and the mathematics tutor scored a brace in Belconnen's thrilling 30-24 victory over the Yass Magpies at Bruce on Saturday.

His second was not only crucial in the win, but an absolute cracker - Sharks centre Manase Kaho producing a brilliant run up to halfway before putting Amponn-Nyamekye away to go the other 50 metres.

It put the home side back in front 24-20 and they held on for the win despite some late drama.

Magpies centre William Peace was sent off for a high shot on Sharks halfback Joshua Pokoney with 14 minutes to go before Belconnen prop John Papalii was also sent off with less than two minutes remaining.

Yass had come back from 18-10 down at half-time to get in front, dominating the second half, before the Sharks steadied off the back of Amponn-Nyamekye's try.

"I was just with my mate Austin and I actually live in O'Connor, so the training field is a 15-minute walk," he said.

"So I was just down there and chatted to [the manager] and he helped me sign up and get a clearance.

"I was surprised in the trial game against Albury that [coach Scott Logan] wanted me to play wing there and I thought, 'OK, I'll take this'."

The 21-year-old wanted to play last year only for the Sharks to pull out of the COVID-19 affected competition.

"I was really disappointed because I hadn't played league in however many years and that was going to be my year, but then COVID hit," Amponn-Nyamekye said.

"It kind of sucked, it wasn't cool, but it was really good this year everything's back on and I'm really enjoying it.

"I guess I stayed around because this training group is really good."

AT A GLANCE

WEST BELCONNEN WARRIORS 22 (B Withers 2, A McDonald 2 tries; B Graham 3 goals) bt QUEANBEYAN BLUES 18 (A Tupou 2, R Holani tries; G Morseu 3 goals)

GUNGAHLIN BULLS 36 (D Aylott, L Thomson, D Bright, R O'Sullivan, T Holten-Williams, Z Patch tries; L Thomson 6 goals) bt TUGGERANONG BUSHRANGERS 20 (J Pollard 2, J Billing, P Birch tries; M O'Malveney 2 goals)

GOULBURN BULLDOGS 36 (S Cummins 2, I Walker, M Flack, V Winnel tries; I Walker 4 goals) bt WODEN VALLEY RAMS 20 (L Lupton, S Maloney, T Scrivener, S Swanson tries; J McDonald 2 goals)

BELCONNEN UNITED SHARKS 30 (P Amponn-Nyamekye 2, M Kaho, J Fangaiuiha, J Pokoney tries; C Woolnough 5 goals) bt YASS MAGPIES 24 (S Davis 2, B Maher, C Esera, L Lewis tries; S Davis 2 goals)