But interim coach Todd Payten's criticism of rival clubs this week for their reluctance to help out with loaning players to his battling organisation went down like a lead balloon at Knights headquarters.

We're told the Knights have been contacted at various stages in recent weeks about the availability of at least two of their players, Josh King and Starford To'a.

Neither player has so far been able to force their way into Newcastle's top squad although To'a was originally named to start on the bench against Parramatta a fortnight ago before dropping off.

Apparently, coach Adam O'Brien was willing to approve their release on loan but only on the proviso the players themselves were comfortable with moving into the Warriors bubble.

We understand both said yes, only for the Warriors to change their mind and withdraw the request soon after.

"If they feel like they're not getting much help, maybe that's the reason,"our source said in response to Payten's claims.

Off-contract utility star Connor Watson has been asked to sit tight and be patient as negotiations continue on a new deal as the club works through several salary cap issues for next season.

Watson remains a signing priority for the Knights and he wants to stay in Newcastle so there is little doubt it will happen.

But currently, the club is working through issues surrounding the playing future of Tim Glasby as well as potential bonuses from this season that will influence how much they can spend for next year. Several leading players have finals bonuses written into their contracts.

There also remains uncertainty around what the salary cap will actually be worth next season and whether there will be a drop in the number of players contracted in the top tier.

Depending on who you talk to, Jacob Saifiti's decision to re-sign with the Knights earlier this week and turn his back on interest from rival clubs will cost him more than $150,000 over the course of the next two seasons.

Knights CEO Phil Gardner, who admitted the club seriously considered sacking Saifiti when he broke his leg after being punched during an argument outside the Greenroof Hotel in Hamilton in December 2018, said he could not be prouder of the way the 24-year-old prop has grown and matured.

Gardner claims forward leader David Klemmer's influence has played a big part in the development of both Saifiti and his brother Daniel on and off the field.

Mitchell Pearce's playful kiss on Kalyn Ponga's cheek after the Knights fullback's brilliant individual try against Souths last weekend raised some eyebrows and brought back memories for some Newcastle fans of a similar incident involving Andrew Johns and Matt Parsons back in the day.

Photos of big Parso planting one on his skipper found their way onto social media not long after footage picked up Pearce's show of affection for Ponga last Saturday night.

The Knights premiership-winning prop remembers the kiss clearly.

"We were pretty close Joe [Johns] and I," he told us. "Probably not quite as close as the picture might suggest but close all the same. I remember doing it but I can't remember exactly why. He must have done something pretty special again."

Asked what Johns' reaction was to having a big frontrower plant one on him, Parsons said: "Socially, I've seen Joe do heaps weirder stuff than that so it probably wasn't that big of a deal to him."

Knights prop Daniel Saifiti is eyeing off his side's Round 14 clash against Manly at McDonald Jones Stadium on August 16 as his likely return from a knee injury.

Sydney media reports earlier this week suggested Saifiti could be back on the field as early as next week but they have been shot down by the club.

The NSW Blues prop tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee and also suffered cartilage damage in the Knights loss to Parramatta a fortnight ago.

The Manly game will give him a five week recovery with coach Adam O'Brien insisting he won't be risked before then if not fully fit.

It was a massive day yesterday for former Nelson Bay prop Chris Poulos and his family and friends.

Fortunate to be alive but left a quadriplegic after nearly drowning in the surf at Dudley beach last November, Poulos returned home for the first time since the life-changing ordeal after spending the past nine months at Royal North Shore Hospital and the Ryde Rehab Centre.

Knights legend Paul Harragon was among those who saved Poulos' life after resuscitating him on the beach before paramedics arrived. He has shown enormous fight and made significant progress in his battle to walk again.

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