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Prop Kade Snowden has emerged as one of the Newcastle Knights’ biggest assets with the team keeping no secret about the fact robust defence has been its major strength and focus week-in-week-out since the season started.

Through attention-grabbing attacking efforts and relentless defensive strength, the 28-year-old has already earned Players’ Player in two rounds of the side’s four match unbeaten run.

“I’m just doing my job and haven’t really thought about it. It’s just the way I should be playing,” Snowden humbly told the media on Wednesday when asked about his form.

“Having no injuries, it has just given me a bit more confidence.

“I just need to keep doing my job and I should keep playing the way I am."

As Snowden powers into his fourth season at the Knights, he attests a shift in the Club’s atmosphere has been the catalyst to the team’s form.

“It’s always enjoyable when you’re winning,” he admitted.

“It’s been a different start to previous years.

“All the hard work is paying off for us.

“I think we are all a bit more relaxed and are enjoying it more and having a bit more fun.

“We have been doing a lot of work on defence and I think that’s what’s winning us the game.”

He readily admits he doesn’t think anyone anticipated the Knights to start the season with such a bang, but has no doubt an emphasis on unwavering defence has been the key.

"We believed that we could do it... it’s just all about our defence,” he said.

“We have to complete more sets and if our defence keeps going the way it is, we should come close to winning.

“It’s probably one of the things that we’ve worked on the most this season and it’s really paying off.

“We’ve really bought into it and it’s winning us the games.

“We’ve been really bad with our fifth tackle penalties so our defence is really winning us the game.

"We just need to keep using it to our advantage."

The Knights host the St George Illawarra Dragons for the Alex McKinnon Cup this Saturday at Hunter Stadium.

Game day information

Saturday April 4 – Round 5 Alex McKinnon Cup
Newcastle Knights v St George Illawarra Dragons
Gates open: 5pm
NYC: 5.15pm
NRL: 7.30pm
Venue: Hunter Stadium
Tickets: HERE