Sometimes, it's the reaction after a win that can tell you the most about a team's psyche.
The seventh-placed Knights have won six of their past eight games to open up a four-point buffer on the chasing pack in the race to the finals.
With two games left and depending on other results, they may have already done enough to guarantee their place. Another win or even a draw would definitely seal it.
If nothing else, it has to be said the Knights have handled the pressure of the past month, where they've played three or four must-win games, extremely well.
Despite that, the over-riding feeling among the players in the sheds after pocketing two vital competition points against the Bulldogs on Saturday night was not one of satisfaction.
There was no sense of that according to coach Adam O'Brien.
"It's the biggest difference between this team now and last year's team," O'Brien says.
"Last year, they were just happy to win. Now, it's how we win that matters more to them. For the last three games in particular and certainly after last night [against the Bulldogs], there hasn't been a whole lot of back-slapping going on. It's more been them dissecting the game and talking about getting better.
"I've actually had to get them up and remind them we've won. They are craving perfection but are realistic about where we are at which is an indication of their growing maturity as a team.
"So is the fact we have been able to find ways to win when we haven't been at our best which we couldn't do last year. It's a positive that we are not getting carried away and recognising we need to find some improvement, particularly with our attack."
TOOHEY'S NEWS: Boring Knights attack needs a quick overhaul
O'Brien is convinced some of the tension and tightness when his side has the footy, particularly in "good-ball" areas inside opposition 20's, has come because of the importance of their recent games.
"Essentially, we've been playing elimination finals for the past four weeks and I can sense some tightness because of that with the way we are using the footy," he said. "The positive is we are defending well, moving better on our edges and working hard for each other when we haven't got the footy. I'm pleased with that aspect.
"There is no hiding from the fact we obviously need to be better connected and more in sync and composed with our attack. We'll keep working on it."
The Knights completed 29 or their first 30 sets and enjoyed 58 percent of the ball in the first half against a spoiling Bulldogs side but only managed to come up with two tries from kicks to lead 10-0 at the break.
Ultimately, the game was decided with two Knights tries in a three minute window mid-way through the second half with Jake Clifford creating the first for himself from close range before putting Bradman Best over from long range after a Connor Watson bust.
Prop David Klemmer was outstanding while Clifford, Watson and Hymel Hunt also stood out for Newcastle.
Finding ways to bring Kalyn Ponga and Best into games in some space will no doubt be high on the agenda at training this week.
