Matty Johns reckons the Knights are a "massive chance" to beat the Panthers in this weekend's preliminary final.
And it has little to do with trying to overturn Newcastle's lean streak against Penrith during the past decade.
Johns, a club legend and NRL media personality, simply backs the style implemented by last year's wooden spooners during a rejuvenated 2026 campaign.
As part of the Backstage with Cooper & Matty Johns podcast, released online Monday, the former playmaker said: "They are going to play Knights football."
Newcastle find themselves just 80 minutes away from a men's grand final, marking just the sixth time they have been in this position since first forming in 1988.
The most recent was 2013, following premierships in 1997 and 2001, plus other visits in both 1995 and 2000.
No team in the NRL era, from 1998 onwards, have gone from bottom of the ladder to champions only 12 months later. The Roosters came closest, but lost the 2010 decider.
The Knights are now one of four sides left standing this season after pipping the Warriors 12-10 in an epic semi at Eden Park on Sunday.
"They have their own unique style and they were able to impose that style on the contest and that style won out," Johns said.
Newcastle have only defeated upcoming opponents Penrith three times from their last 21 encounters, recording 17 losses during that period and a 14-all draw when competition resumed from a COVID hiatus six years ago.
The Panthers lifted the major trophy four times in a row (2021-2024), also featured in the 2020 title showdown and fell just one game shy of last season's decider.
That dominance and consistency from the western Sydney club continued in 2026, clinching the minor premiership in the last round.
Johns, however, feels like the Knights can keep riding their own current wave of momentum.
"Now, next week, this is why I give them a massive chance of beating the Panthers," he said.
"Because what's going to happen, they aren't going to play diet Panthers football, they aren't going to play Panthers football, they are going to play Knights football.
"They are going to move ball around and they are going to test them on the edges and they are going to move Moses Leota and the other big forwards around the field.
"They don't want to get dragged into a centre-field war, like a slug fest, and this is what has been so important about what Justin [coach Holbrook] has done."
Johns further examined the process behind some of Holbrook's tactics, introduced after taking over the reins from former Knights coach Adam O'Brien at the end of 2025.
"A lot of coaches will take over teams that are struggling and their whole goal is: 'If we can just sneak into the finals, I've done my job'," Johns said.
"So what they do is they implement a style of football that's low risk, high completion.
"They basically copy a style from somewhere else and the best example is Melbourne.
"Melbourne does ABC and we're going to do that, but what they do is they don't do it as good.
"But if they have a good run, what happens is they sneak into the finals and the problem with that style of football is you don't beat Melbourne, you don't beat the best sides playing that style of football.
"So what he [Holbrook] has done, he's established a unique style of football that is exclusive to that squad and how they play. Suits their strengths."
The Knights added another pair of long-range tries to their ever-growing collection while in New Zealand on September 20 and despite a high number of missed tackles were still largely gritty in defence.
Newcastle veteran Dane Gagai will be free to play Sunday's preliminary final at Accor Stadium, having escaped any punishment from the NRL judiciary.
The 35-year-old, who will join the Broncos in 2027, wasn't charged by the match review committee on Monday after being put on report late against the Warriors.
Gagai will next move into outright 12th for most ever NRL appearances, having just joined Chris Heighington and Jesse Bromwich on 338.
No other player to spend time at the Knights has ran out more times across their career, with Heighington and Darius Boyd (337) the previous marks.
Club wise the only players to wear the red and blue uniform on more occasions than Gagai (240) are current assistant coach Danny Buderus (257), former captain Kurt Gidley (251) and eighth Immortal Andrew Johns (249).
Dylan Lucas, who returned to the field just 58 days after what was first feared to be season-ending ankle surgery, came off the bench for a late cameo at Eden Park and was penalised for what appeared to be a crusher tackle.
No charges were laid on the NSW representative forward.
Warriors centre Ali Leiataua was hit with a careless high tackle on Knights skipper Kalyn Ponga.
The ninth-minute incident was deemed a grade one and being Leiataua's first offence, warranted a fine of $1000 with an early guilty plea
Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland made a game-high 54 tackles, winger Greg Marzhew produced 187 run metres and Ponga, who underwent a HIA late in the piece but was later cleared to play week three of finals, posted two line breaks.
As of Monday afternoon the Knights were rated $3.70 outsiders on SportsBet, compared to Penrith's $1.28 favouritism.
PRELIMINARY FINALS (Played 5: Won 2, Lost 3)
1995: Newcastle Knights 4 def by Manly Sea Eagles 12 at Sydney Football Stadium on September 17.
1997: Newcastle Knights 17 def North Sydney Bears 12 at Sydney Football Stadium on September 20.
2000: Newcastle Knights 20 def by Sydney Roosters 26 at Sydney Football Stadium on September 19.
2001: Newcastle Knights 20 def Cronulla Sharks 10 at Sydney Football Stadium on September 22.
2013: Newcastle Knights 14 def by Sydney Roosters 40 at Allianz Stadium on September 28.
