Kalyn Ponga will tell you no loss has hurt more this season than the 13-12 golden point thriller against St George Illawarra in Newcastle in early April.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
So do the Knights owe the Dragons one on Sunday in Mudgee?
"We always want to get over any team we play." the Knights fullback said. "But yeah, they beat us in that sort of fashion and it did hurt that loss. When you get smashed, you are pretty much down the whole game but when you just get beaten on the buzzer, it hits you all at once."
Dragons five-eighth Corey Norman was the hero the last time the two sides met, nailing a 40 metre field-goal late in over-time to seal the deal after both sides had chances prior to that.
It was round four and Newcastle's third defeat on the trot and some would argue their effort that night for no result may have knocked the stuffing out of the squad, leading into poor defeats at the hands of Manly and Gold Coast. But several weeks down the track, the Dragons won't have injured match-winner Norman for the return bout and the Knights have found their mojo and confidence thanks to three consecutive wins.
Ponga says the difference with the team now compared to when they last met the Dragons is the players now know what works for them.
"We probably know who we are a bit more now and what it takes to win and the little things that we need to do," he said.
"I haven't really kept track of what they've been doing but I know they beat us last time and will want to be doing it again. We are excited for the game, I can't wait. We aren't going to take them lightly."
The Knights have been boosted by the news injured duo Connor Watson and Edrick Lee are both a big chance of playing after suffering foot injuries in the win over the Bulldogs last weekend.
"They are more likely than unlikely to play from what I'm being told," coach Nathan Brown said on Thursday.
"They both ruptured their planter fascia but that's a bonus because you can play if you can get through the pain because it doesn't have to be managed. They had a bit of a light run yesterday and will work a lot harder today.
"They are confident they are both going to be right."
READ MORE: Newcastle Knights
Ponga is confident house-mate Watson will play and having a settled spine has proven to be a big weapon for the Knights in recent weeks.
"He is working on getting back for the game but he's a tough little man, he should be there," Ponga said.
"We are settled, we are pretty comfortable and know what our roles are. We've got Danny [Levi] and Pearcey [Mitchell Pearce] that are playing good footy so we are just trying to bounce off them and support them."
Meanwhile, Ponga praised the commitment of the club's fans after confirmation the Knights have set a new membership record.
"It's awesome to have that support. We've always known we've had it but it seems to be growing and it's pretty special, pretty cool," he said.