Barnett, 25, was off contract at the end of next season but has secured another three-year deal with Newcastle. He agreed to terms in late October and has since finalised the contract.

The back-rower, a Taree product and Newcastle junior, came back to the club from Canberra midway through 2016 and has since carved out 75 NRL games, winning the Knights' player of the year in 2017 and 2019.

Barnett said he felt very fortunate to be staying long-term with Newcastle.

"It was good to get it over the line obviously," Barnett said.

"I'm very excited to extend my stay here, and it's good times ahead.

"I thought I was lucky enough just to sign with this club in the first place when I first came, but to play extended seasons here, it's a proud moment and something I'll really cherish.

"I can't wait for the next three years."

With his immediate future secure, Barnett was aiming to break into representative football and play out his NRL career in Newcastle.

"I'd like to try and play some rep footy, and get another two or three years then [past the new deal]," Barnett said.

"Depending how the body is, that would probably do me.

"To stay at this club is the ultimate goal, but obviously I've got to have success while I'm here, so that's the plan.

"There's a lot of hard days between now and then, but it's exciting and I can't wait."

He said "it was a pretty easy decision" to sign the new deal.

"My wife [Clare] and I are settled in Newcastle and the family is an hour and a half, two hours away, so I can't ask for much more," he said.

The Wingham junior was at the Knights before joining the Raiders for the 2013 and 2014 under-20s seasons.

He was promoted to the Raiders' NSW Cup squad in 2015 and made his NRL debut in round 22 against Wests Tigers.

He made two NRL appearances that season and was named the NSW Cup competition's player of the year.

He gained a release from the rest of his two-year contract at Canberra to return to the Knights midway through 2016 on an 18-month deal and he hasn't looked back.

"It was an opportunity," he said of coming back to Newcastle.

"I knew the side wasn't a great side. We had a wooden spoon and were probably guaranteed another by the time I got here.

"But it was an opportunity and I told myself I had to take it.

"I believe I did, and here we are.

"A lot of hard work has gone into it, and a lot of hard days, but a lot of enjoyable ones, too.

"It was interesting how it's all happened.

"I started here and I didn't really know what the go with footy was and I ended up going down to Canberra.

"But I guess for a kid growing up in Wingham, or the Manning Valley, it's their dream to play for the Knights. It's our closest NRL side.

"Newcastle is my home now and I've settled in, so honestly it's a blessing."