The Newcastle Knights had what can only be described as an incredible finish to the 2023 NRL season and will now look to repeat the dose as 2024 commences.
At one stage in 2023, there was little doubt the Knights were in contention for a bottom-four spot.
So bad was it that the club were reportedly weighing up their future coaching options, with Adam O'Brien hanging onto his job at the helm of the men from the Hunter by a thread.
The turnaround during the second half of the season had to be seen to be believed, though, as they rocketed to an eventual home elimination final, where they knocked over the Canberra Raiders before falling to the New Zealand Warriors in an Auckland-hosted semi-final the following week.
Whether they can repeat that form and carry it throughout a full season remains to be seen, though, and these could be the questions that ultimately shape the Knights' 2024 campaign.
5. How will Kai Pearce-Paul fit at NRL level?
One of the signings Newcastle have made this year comes directly from England, with second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul joining the club ahead of the new campaign.
At just 22 years of age, Pearce-Paul has more than 60 Super League games under his belt and also has three Tests for England under his belt, having made his debut for the nation during the 2022 Rugby League World Cup.
This signing for the Knights was confirmed in December of 2022, so it has been a long time coming, with Pearce-Paul to be joined by another young Englishman in Australia in young five-eighth Will Pryce.
Whether Pearce-Paul is fit to start the season remains to be seen after some off-season injury troubles, but when he does get onto the field, he is the likely replacement - and frankly, improvement - for Lachlan Fitzgibbon, who has gone in the other direction to the English Super League.
That's not a knock on Fitzgibbon, and he had what can only be described as career-best form at the back end of 2023, but Pearce-Paul has all the abilities to be an upgrade.
The question, of course, is just how quickly he can adapt to NRL level.
Zero Tackle's 2024 NRL Season Guide is now live, and this year, it's FREE! Over 120 pages of content, with every player profiled, full team lists, stats and expectations for every team. Get your FREE DOWNLOAD now.
