But ask the Knights coach where his mindset is in regards to the NRL title race and how long it might take his side to become a genuinely serious contender, he can't put it much clearer.

"I have the mentality that we should be fighting for one this year," he said.

"That's not coming from an arrogant place. I just think that's the mindset that needs to happen every single day.

"I'm really comfortable with the playing roster, I'm comfortable with the people under the roof here so if we work hard every single day, than anything is possible this year. It's about belief but it's also about execution as well. You need to make it happen.

"It's one thing having that positive mindset and wanting it to happen but you need to make it happen."

O'Brien has at least four years to help make it happen after signing an upgraded two year contract extension with the club that will take him out until the end of 2024.

Only one other coach in the competition [Titans' Justin Holbrook] has been given the same level of security which is an indication of how much faith the club has in O'Brien delivering what would be just the Knights' third premiership.

O'Brien is over the moon with the new deal.

"It's where we want to be, both my wife and I, and I'm really grateful to the club," he said. "They gave me my first opportunity so to have my future settled here, it's a great feeling and I'm really happy.

"We've made some progress and built some foundations and it will take some time but we need to keep progressing each day and I'm grateful they've got faith in me to be the person to lead that. There is a lot of good people under this roof. There is a lot of people working really hard every day - it's just not me. We have a really hungry group of players and a hungry staff that wants success.

"While being pleased with making the semis, it's not enough. Not for the players and the people employed here - we want more and we'll be striving to get more."

O'Brien's news is set to be followed in the coming days by confirmation of the retention of Mitchell Pearce and extension of Bradman Best.

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