Being belted by Cronulla in a trial may be just what Newcastle needed ahead of their NRL season opener on Friday, Knights recruit Jesse Ramien says.
Ramien admitted he and fellow ex-Shark Edrick Lee had tried to pass on as much inside information as they could to Newcastle before their round one clash against Cronulla.
But Ramien reckoned their recent 30-6 pre-season loss to the Sharks had been even more helpful.
The Knights put in an error-riddled display.
However, Ramien said the heavy defeat had provided the Knights with renewed focus for their re-match at McDonald Jones Stadium.
"Edrick and I are more familiar with the side than the rest of the boys so we have shared what we know and what is going to help us," Ramien said.
"But we are more worried about what we can fix from the trials.
"Getting beaten the way we did gave us a lot to look at, a lot to assess so it is probably a positive thing.
"It has given us a lot of focus ahead of round one."
Newcastle have claimed three of the past four wooden spoons.
There had been renewed hope for 2019 after coach Nathan Brown thrust X-factor Kalyn Ponga into the halves and a recruitment spree that lured the likes of Ramien, Lee, Tim Glasby and David Klemmer.
Ramien still had plenty of faith in his new side.
"Ball control was a big one that came out of the last trial and for us (scoring) points will come," he said.
"We have worked on a few things so hopefully we go out there and put on a better performance."
Newcastle would be forgiven for dreading a Cronulla re-match but Ramien was breathing a sigh of relief.
"It's a different feeling (playing old club). It's good to get it out of the way in round one," he said.
"And I got my debut there (in Newcastle last year). I can't wait to get out there and have the crowd behind me this time instead of shouting at me."
Ramien - who earned a 2018 Prime Minister's XIII nod - is still buzzing from a pre-season in which he featured in the NSW Emerging Blues camp and Indigenous All Stars team.
Meanwhile, Knights Shaun Kenny-Dowall (ankle) and Hymel Hunt (hamstring) are expected to be available for round one.
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