After playing one first-grade game last year while still in high school, Makasini triggered a comeback from 16-0 down that iced Saturday's trial match of mostly second-string players.
The sparkling display comes at the perfect time for the Tigers, who are preparing to shuffle their backline around as Adam Doueihi begins the season in the halves.
Makasini has mostly trained on the left wing this pre-season so is competing with Jeral Skelton for chances, but could also fill in at centre should Starford To'a or Taylan May go down while Doueihi is in the halves.
"I can cover both spots. I like both positions," Makasini said.
"I've been on the left a bit, left wing. But there's a couple of good wingers in our team. We're all fighting for the spot."
Either way, Makasini did all he could to claim a starting spot, lighting up the left edge in Newcastle.
"I'm not quite sure yet if I'll be in that starting side. I'm still fighting for that spot," he said.
"I'll just keep my head down, train hard and hopefully I get that opportunity."
Makasini had the Tigers on the board by barging past experienced opposite man Tommy Talau, one of four defenders he beat en route to the line.
The Tigers had equalised when Makasini, moved out to the left wing, scored his second try untouched on a shift triggered by Jock Madden.
A cut-out pass from Javon Andrews helped Makasini complete his hat-trick, with opposite man Junior Tupou giving the powerful teen too much space to move.
Makasini was given an early mark but still finished with 108 run metres.
The man ousted from the starting halves by big-name Roosters recruit Daly Cherry-Evans, Hugo Savala, laid on the first try of the game with a beautiful short pass for Fetalaiga Pauga.
But he was rested for the second half as the Tigers ran away with the game, with winger Faaletino Tavana scoring a freakish late try in the left corner.
Tavana jumped out of the field to avoid defender Enzo Griffier, then contorted himself to place the ball on the line.
Rugby union product Rex Bassingthwaighte threw the last pass for Tom Rodwell to score the Roosters' second try down the right side in encouraging signs for a man tipped as a possible successor to James Tedesco.
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