Newcastle Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga has lifted the lid on the shock transformation of the club following new leadership under Justin Holbrook.
Ponga is playing career-best footy in 2026, along with many others in the Knights' lineup.
It's a sharp contrast from the side we saw in 2025, which finished last and future success looked uncertain.
The Maroons star has heavy involvement every time he steps out onto the pitch, averaging 170 metres with ball in hand along with 14 try assists to put his outside men away.
What it has come down to is a happy environment, newfound belief, and everyone bringing the best out of each other in the Hunter, according to the skipper.
“I'm really happy," Ponga said on SEN's Kick Off.
"I think the environment that the club's created, the coaching staff have created, our younger boys have bought into is bringing the best out of anyone.
“I definitely feel that way. I'm excited to play my footy.
“I think everyone looks happy, and people are mentioning that.
“There's been some tougher years at the Knights, but I feel like the best years are definitely ahead of us, and I'm excited to be a part of that, to be honest.”
Much conjecture has been spread in past seasons on Ponga's long-term future in Newcastle.
But with an impressive crop of players coming through, there are exciting times ahead in the Hunter after an outstanding turnaround over the summer.
One of those promising rookies is Francis Manuleleua, who has overcome a nasty elbow dislocation to line up for his first finals series after a breakout debut season.
In 12 appearances, Manuleleua has notched up 28 tackle breaks, proving to be a menace on the edge and marking him as a future star.
There has been plenty of reason for the club to dip out of the finals race, but they have stuck strong, which is a credit to Holbrook and the Knights' strong depth.
With star recruit Dylan Brown and NSW Blues forward Dylan Lucas suffering season-ending injuries, while Jacob Saifiti copping a suspension for the remainder of the season, the Knights rolled up their sleeves and pushed even harder in the right direction.
They stunned South Sydney in Week 1 to progress to the Semi-Finals, where they are building confidence for a premiership title push.
The Knights will face the ultimate test on Sunday afternoon when they face 50,000 New Zealanders cheering for the Warriors at Eden Park in a sudden-death final.
