Knights prop David Klemmer is adament new-found trust and self-belief within the playing group will drive the club's premiership resurgence this season under rookie coach Adam O'Brien.
Klemmer says any lingering mental scarring from their failed 2019 campaign has been replaced by an air of confidence following one of the toughest pre-seasons in the club's history.
"There is just way more trust within the playing group now but it also feels like there is a lot more belief among the boys as well," Klemmer told the Newcastle Herald.
"A lot of it's to do with all the work we have done during a really tough pre-season and trusting the bloke next to you comes from everyone really putting in and just being accountable to each other. You'll see it in the way we defend which is a big area we needed to improve. It's more a confidence thing with us as well I think and everyone knowing exactly their role within the team.
"There is just a far different feel here now, not just on the field but off it as well among the boys. What happened last year will be motivating but it's been put in the back pocket and not really been spoken about at all.
"It's been all about what we are going to do this season."
After trials against St George Illawarra and a depleted Sydney Roosters over the past fortnight, the Knights will kick off their quest to end a six-year finals drought against the Warriors on Saturday week at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Aside from the addition of former Sharks hooker Jayden Brailey and young centres Gehamat Shibasaki and Enari Tuala, the squad will strongly resemble last year's outfit.
The big difference, according to Klemmer, will be the mindset of the players with O'Brien's influence on their mental approach a significant factor.
"With Adsy [O'Brien] coming in, he wanted to train us differently to anything I've done before both here and at the Dogs," Klemmer said.
"It's my first time with this type of program and I'm feeling really good, really fit.
"We have a great performance staff here and everyone is playing their part. There is a lot of people in the background doing great stuff and getting everyone nice and fit and strong."
Klemmer says there has been a real game-related focus about the training program under O'Brien over the past four months.
"There's been a whole lot of game-specific stuff and we've been doing it at a really high intensity and under fatigue to simulate what we'll face every week during the season," he explained.
"There is never much rest and everything is done really fast so you are really feeling it in the legs. The last three or four months has been at such a high intensity and so fast-paced, the actual games themselves feel a bit slower.
"You feel more relaxed, less frantic and you think clearer as well and make better decisions.
"When you are fatigued and your legs are lactated, you are thinking about your body and not concentrating on what you should be.
"We've trained our minds and our bodies to push through all that and that's where I reckon a lot of the trust and confidence comes from.
"We just have to make sure we turn up with the right mindset and ready to play footy against the Warriors in a week and a half which I'm sure we will and build from there."
Meanwhile, former Lakes United hooker Chris Randall is a step closer to making his NRL debut with the Knights confirming he has signed a development deal with the club.
Randall has been one of the standouts during the pre-season despite only being on a train and trial deal and played strongly in both the club's trials.
"Chris has done it the hard way. He has had to earn it," Knights recruitment boss Alex McKinnon said.
"He's a local product who has trusted that there is a development pathway for him at this club.
"He trained in the pre-season last year and was elevated late in the year to a development contract and now with Danny Levi having departed, we believe there is an opportunity for him to progress into first grade."
