Trent Hodkinson is feeling unhindered by the knee injury which had hobbled him during his first year at Newcastle and ready to lead their fight out of the mire.
Two weeks out from the start of the NRL season, Hodkinson is nearing the end of a summer spent slogging it out in the gym, building up strength and confidence in his troublesome knee.
The former NSW State of Origin halfback's troubles with his knee are well documented and have affected him throughout the past few years.
In 2014, he had stem cells injected into his leg to try to salvage his career.
Stoic, proud and uncompromising, Hodkinson doesn't like to show any signs of weakness but still concedes it had an impact on him last year.
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Knights coach Nathan Brown marvelled at how the 28-year-old turned up week after week - only missing one game all year - when he had every right to ask for time off.
But, as the Knights struggled through their second-straight wooden-spoon season, Hodkinson felt duty bound to his teammates.
"I think I missed one game through my knee last year," Hodkinson told AAP.
"So, at the end of the day, it hasn't been a whole lot of a problem.
"But in saying that, it's feeling a lot better. I won't have to think about it now - it won't be in the back of my mind."
After a lacklustre 2016, Hodkinson looks ready to get back to performing at full capacity.
Not only did the Knights manage just one win last year, Hodkinson lost his NSW Origin jumper.
Just two years earlier, he scored the decisive try in the Blues' drought-breaking series win over Queensland and would be eyeing a return to the representative arena.
He said there was no simple solution to getting his knee right - just playing it right and plenty of sweat.
He trained away from the main group during fitness drills, spending long hours doing laps in the pool.
He also upped his focus on his legs in the gym, doing three leg sessions a week but only two focusing on his upper body.
"The knee's really good," Hodkinson said.
"There's no dramas. It's the best it's felt in a long time, to be honest.
"I've just become a lot smarter and I don't need to be out there on the field doing everything and anything when I can do my fitness inside and then be our there for the important stuff and the ballwork.
"I felt like I haven't missed a beat and I'm feeling really good."
