NEWCASTLE Knights coach Adam O'Brien has waited a long time to get his spine realigned.
Not since early last year have Newcastle fielded their first-choice fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker in the same game, so O'Brien is not surprisingly excited about the combination of his new "fab four" - Kalyn Ponga, Mitchell Pearce, Jake Clifford and Jayden Brailey - in Saturday's clash with North Queensland at McDonald Jones Stadium.
O'Brien said Ponga, who has not played since May 9 after suffering a groin injury that kept him out of the first two State of Origin games, "trained really well" during Friday's captain's run to confirm his fitness.
"He's a certain starter, so I don't anticipate any changes to the team," O'Brien said.
"It's great to have him back.
"The spine is the strongest we've had since round two last year now, so things are looking up, provided we understand the importance of it's not just up to the spine.
"We need everybody playing well tomorrow night.
The spine is the strongest we've had since round two last year.
ADAM O'BRIEN
"It's a really important game for us, given we've got a bye coming up after it, so it's a four-point game for us."
Newcastle have been criticised for their inconsistency this season but O'Brien believes that has been a trend for most teams who have lost key personnel and a big factor in the large number of blowout scorelines recently.
He expects Newcastle to start realising their potential now that their senior ball-handlers and decision-makers are back on deck.
"The more time they get to spend together, the better we're going to be," O'Brien said.
"I expect them to be of a high standard this week, but with the bye next week, we'll get up to five skills sessions in, so the time more time they spend together, the better they're going to get. I don't put a ceiling on them."
Asked for his thoughts on Ponga possibly getting recalled for Origin III, O'Brien said he would "cross that bridge when we come to it."
After their last-start 10-6 win against the Warriors, O'Brien gave his players an extended break in bye week to freshen them up for a game that will be crucial for each team.
Both the Knights and Cowboys are on the cusp of the top eight after six wins, although North Queensland have played one fewer game.
The visitors have been dealing with their share of adversity this week, after coach Todd Payten was ordered into isolation and a training session was cancelled, because of a COVID-19 scare.
The Cowboys, who will be in the hands of assistant coach Dean Young, also face the prospect of flying to and from Newcastle on the day of the game, in alignment with the NRL's stringent new protocols.
O'Brien doubted if Payten's absence would provide Newcastle with any significant advantage.
"Our boys are going to make tackles regardless of whether I make it into the stadium tomorrow," he said.
"I don't overstate my importance.
"It can work the other way, to be honest. It can give them a siege mentality. They've had a few things go wrong.
"Sometimes you wake up and you're not feeling the best and you've still got to get it done. And that's how the Cowboys would be approaching it.
"We need to be the same."
O'Brien is confident that Newcastle, who would appear to have a favourable draw, can finish the season strongly and qualify for the play-offs for the second successive seasons.
The Cowboys will fly south with a similar dog-eat-dog mentality.
"There's a lot of congestion there, from about seventh position to about 14th," O'Brien said.
"The cliche is week by week, and that's exactly what we need to do ... we need to keep putting in good performances that are going to keep us in good stead come the back end of the year, but the No.1 thing is banking two points each week."
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