AFTER one of their finest opening-round performances in recent memory, the Knights are intent on making it two from two when they return to a packed McDonald Jones Stadium for Sunday's clash with Wests Tigers.
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Newcastle's comprehensive 20-6 triumph against Sydney Roosters on Saturday was the perfect starting point for their 2022 campaign, but Knights coach Adam O'Brien and his troops realise it will soon be forgotten if they slip up against the Tigers.
Newcastle have not played on home turf since July 3 last year, when COVID forced the entire NRL competition to relocate to Queensland, and a bumper crowd would appear certain to turn out, given Sunday afternoons are traditionally the club's most popular time slot.
"Even if there was no crowd, we need to back that up," O'Brien said. "We're one game in. But I will say we're really looking forward to coming home. It's been a long time since we've played in front of the Hunter faithful.
"We had good support here today. It was really pleasing to see some Knights fans ... they stick, and we're really looking forward to coming home next week."
The win maintained O'Brien's 100 per cent record in round-one games, but beating both the Warriors (2020) and Canterbury (2021) at home hardly compares to the prized scalp of the Roosters in their own backyard.
The only only other coach in Newcastle's history to win his first three season-openers was Malcolm Reilly (1995-97).
O'Brien has no doubt his team will continue to improve when injured regulars Daniel Saifiti, Jayden Brailey, Hymel Hunt, Sauaso Sue and Edrick Lee are available for selection.
"There are a few guys who are out ... but right now I'm happy with the 17 guys who are in that room down there," O'Brien said.
"I know there's some other cattle to come back, but the boys that were there today did a really good job, and I'm proud of them."
While the coach was delighted with Newcastle's defensive resolve, especially when they were reduced to 12 men by Phoenix Crossland's sin-binning midway through the second half but managed to keep their line intact, he felt they "left some tries out there".
Delighted as he was, O'Brien put the win in perspective when he acknowledged: "You don't win the premiership in round one."
"But it was important for us to implement some of the stuff we'd worked on," O'Brien said.
"To get off to a good start against quality opposition is always really pleasing."
Knights captain Kalyn Ponga said the collective effort was what pleased him most.
"Just the team effort, across the board, everyone had their part in today's win," he said.
"It wasn't only the forwards, it wasn't only the backs ... everyone across the board did their role and did it well."
Ponga added that "no-one shone out, we all shone together".
The Roosters have dominated the Knights in recent seasons, winning the previous four clashes between the two sides by a combined scoreline of 156-34 (39-8 on average), but coach Trent Robinson acknowledged his team "got what we deserved today" against committed opponents.
"They were good," Robinson said of Newcastle.
"They were physical. They were good in the ruck and good in carrying the ball really well."
Roosters skipper James Tedesco said the Knights did not allow his team to play anywhere near their best.
"It felt very clunky ... and we were trying very hard but we just didn't build any pressure or possession down in their end," Tedesco said.
"They were more ready to play than us."