Captain Jarrod Mullen believes Wayne Bennett’s vast post-season expertise will be a key factor as Newcastle attempt to break a finals victory drought stretching back seven years.
A member of the last Newcastle side to win a finals game in 2006, five eighth Mullen says coach Bennett’s presence is hugely reassuring as the Knights prepare for their first finals appearance since 2011 in Sunday’s elimination clash with Canterbury.
“It’s give us a lot of confidence knowing he (Bennett) has been there and done it and won seven grand finals,” Mullen told AAP.
“He’ll have us primed for this game all week.
“Our goal was always been to make the eight and now we have, we’re not just there to make up the numbers.
“I’ve not played in a finals game under Wayne before so I am looking forward to seeing if he does anything different with us.”
The Knights finished the regular season in seventh following a 54-6 thrashing of repeat wooden spooners Parramatta on Sunday.
Andrew Johns was the Knights’ halfback when they last won a finals game with Mullen coming off the bench as a raw 19-year-old. Johns inspired his side to a 25-18 win over Manly that night with a try and four goals.
But Mullen said the current Knights side had enough players with big-game experience not to have to rely on one player, despite the club’s inability to reach the finals the last three seasons.
“I played in that last (2006) game and it seems a lifetime ago,” Mullen told AAP.
“One thing we do have in our side is plenty of experience. Guys like Darius (Boyd), Willie (Mason) and Jeremy Smith have all won grand finals.
“We aren’t looking any further than Sunday and the Bulldogs, but we will go into the game confident we can get the chocolates.”
Mullen has taken over as the Knights skipper since Kurt Gidley was ruled out for the season and the 26-year-old has risen to the challenge with his most consistent campaign since making his debut in 2005.
“It is a real honour and being a local junior it means the world to me,” he said.
“To lead to club to a grand final would be amazing, but we have a very long way to go before we can start thinking about that.
“If we lose on Sunday we’re gone, so we can’t look any further than that.”