Not all statistics give you the complete picture. But here is one that doesn't lie.
The Knights are in the box seat and may very well win their final three games or even two of their remaining three to qualify for the play-offs for the second straight season. But the question is: will they be any sort of threat if or when they get there?
On what we are mostly seeing from them right now, we'd say no. The reason: their attack is generally predictable, lacking imagination - boring even.
So back to that telling stat. Going into this weekend's round, the Knights had the second worst attack in the competition. Only their rivals today on the Gold Coast, the Bulldogs, are less threatening with the footy.
In 21 games, the Knights have scored 369 points, almost 400 less than leaders Melbourne at the same point of the season. They have crossed for just 66 tries, 12 fewer than they scored in the same number of games last season prior to the rule changes that have opened up the game so much this year.
Compare the Knights' 66 tries to Melbourne's 131 or that Manly trio Reuben Garrick, Jason Saab and Tom Trobjevic have scored 59 between them. Newcastle's top try-scorer is Enari Tuala with eight.
Yes, there are excuses. There is no question without Mitchell Pearce and Kalyn Ponga together for a big chunk of the season and with Jake Clifford only arriving mid-year, it limited the side's attack.
But the brains trust are together now and living in each other's pockets on the Sunshine Coast so should be working overtime to break the shackles. The first thing they need to do is throw out their old attack playbook.
Forget the structured shapes and block plays and the idea that you need to get to certain points on the field to put on your set plays.
What's needed, the way the game is now, with set restarts and less wrestle is fast, direct attack that squares up opposition defences to create the space out wide for the likes of Ponga and Bradman Best to cut loose.
The Knights have the forward pack and enough game-breakers in the side to test the premiership heavyweights when the time comes.
But only if they change their programmed attacking mentality first.
Signing priorities
The Knights are in the market for a big, tackle-breaking backrower and another outside back with the two positions currently the club's priorities for next season.
They won't be replacing the departing Connor Watson with a like-for-like given Kurt Mann's re-signing and will use his money elsewhere.
They have signed Dragons half Adam Clune as a back-up for Mitchell Pearce and to provide some leadership and direction in NSW Cup. The Knights missed out on Broncos utility Tesi Niu and showed interest in Dragons forward Tyrell Fuimaomo before he re-signed.
King replacement
Canberra Raiders are none too happy the Knights have slipped in under their guard to sign big, strapping young centre-turned-frontrower Leo Thompson.
Thompson is a 22-year-old rugby convert from New Zealand who Raiders recruitment guru Peter Mulholland brought across to Canberra last year.
The Raiders had an offer on the table for him for next season and believed he was virtually a done deal before the Knights struck. He'll likely fill the void left by Josh King's departure.
Fitzy a done deal
Lachlan Fitzgibbon's new 2-year-deal with the Knights for 2022-23 is not in any jeopardy despite the backrower having surgery on the same shoulder he had reconstructed in the pre-season.
The club is in the throes of extending hooker Jayden Brailey's contract and will re-sign both Enari Tuala and Chris Randall. Brailey is already signed for 2022 but the Knights want him here longer term. We're told no decision has been made on Phoenix Crossland or Tex Hoy.
Centre Gehamat Shibasaki is set to be released to take up a longer term offer with a Japanese rugby club.
Pathways job
The Knights have been flooded with applicants for the position of Head of Pathways following Andrew Ryan's decision to pull the pin on the job a few weeks ago.
Ryan, who was also NSW Cup coach, has left the club to spend more time with his young family and will coach South Newcastle again next season.
Knights CEO Phil Gardner said the job had attracted "enormous interest".
"There are some really strong applicants and we'll make sure we get the right person because it is such a crucial position," he told us.
The Knights will field teams in all grades next season including the Under 21's.
Baz's Best points
Prop Daniel Saifiti leads but his injury has thrown our Knights' player of the year race wide open.
Knights v Raiders- Rd 20: 3 Bradman Best 2 Kalyn Ponga 1 Mitch Barnett
Knights v Broncos- Rd 21: 3 Tyson Frizell 2 Daniel Saifiti 1 Mitchell Pearce
Knights v Sharks- Rd 22:3 Mitch Barnett 2 Jacob Saifiti 1 Enari Tuala
Current leader board: 22- Daniel Saifiti. 17- Mitch Barnett 16- Jayden Brailey. 15- Kalyn Ponga, Jacob Saifiti 13- Connor Watson, 8- Tyson Frizell, Bradman Best. 4- Brodie Jones. 3- Kurt Mann, Jake Clifford, Josh King. 1- David Klemmer, Jesse Sue, Phoenix Crossland, Mitchell Pearce, Enari Tuala.
