By the time Newcastle trio Luke Huth, Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Sione Mata'utia had finished at the John Hunter Hospital facility, the Tamworth 13-year-old reckons he "had more Knights gear than Roosters gear".

No player in the current squad has donned that red and blue uniform more times in the top grade than Mata'utia.

His 112 appearances are exclusively for the Knights and approaching a seventh NRL season, having debuted in 2014, the 23-year-old former Australian and Samoan representative knows Newcastle inside and out.

He feels that 80-minute performances will be key to bouncing back from the disappointment of this most recent campaign and making the top eight for the first time since 2013.

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"I think just being in the moment for 80 minutes," Mata'utia said.

"That's been a big focus this year.

"Back end of games we've lost a few [in the past] or the first 20 [minutes] we've lost a few and haven't been able to get the game back.

"That's definitely [an area of] improvement for us. I think that's definitely improved at the moment in pre-season, but you never know because you've got to wait until round one to see all the rewards. You can only go off feeling and it's feeling really strong and the bonds are only getting stronger."

With plenty of "competition for spots" within the Knights group for 2020, Mata'utia said versatility will continue being an important part of his repertoires.

Outside 20 or so showings spread across wing, fullback, halfback, lock and bench cameos, he has mainly swung between centre and second-row during his NRL career.

That was certainly the case again in 2019 and also the opening weeks of pre-season training under first-year Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien, with Mata'utia bookending in the forward pack either side of a stint in the backline.

"If Adzy [O'Brien] gives me an opportunity to lock down a position, which I think he has, I'll definitely give it a crack," he said.

"But learning two positions, three positions or four positions isn't a bad thing either. I've just come to terms that I've got to know how to play a few positions.

"If I get the opportunity to lock down a position that would be pretty cool and that would be different to what I have in the past, but as long as I'm playing footy that's the most important thing."

The Knights head into camp at Tamworth on Sunday before breaking over the Christmas period.

Mata'utia, now a father of two with son Noah joining daughter Amiyah three months ago, said visiting Newcastle's Ronald McDonald House was timely in the festive season because "there's nothing better than seeing a sick kid have a smile on their face".

Fitzgibbon gave Southwell one of his training shirts.