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NRL Premiership - Round 19, Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm - Sunday 17 July 2016, Hunter Stadium Broadmeadow NSW - Photographer Shane Myers © nrlphotos.com

According to Newcastle Knights’ outside back Brendan Elliot, the side’s past two performances have instilled a new sense of confidence ahead of this weekend's match against the top-of-the-table Cronulla Sharks. 

On Sunday, the Knights managed to stay within four points of the second-placed Melbourne Storm after trailing off a promising golden point finish against the Canberra Raiders in Round 17.

“We are really putting ourselves in the position to win the games with both Canberra and Melbourne, we really stuck it to them,” he said. 

“Now we have that confidence that we can bring it and we can hold on to these sorts of teams.

“We are looking forward to going down there this weekend.” 

Elliot believes the key to both results has been the added experience young players have notched throughout the season.

“We are pretty positive each week we are getting better and better,” he said.

“We are actually putting ourselves in the position to come away with the win if we stick it out and stay in the arm wrestle.

“Although it is disappointing, there are some positives out of it. 

“A big thing for us is just staying in the game and completing our sets well.”

While wary of the Sharks’ impressive winning record this season, the Knights are determined to challenge the side at Shark Park.

“They are playing outstanding football at the momentum and there is a lot of respect there, but I am focused on our game and we are going to keep building and try to improve each week,” Elliot added. 

“Each week are looking to improve and we are obviously going to go to the Sharks and go there to win. 

“We want to build on each performance, and I think if we do that to the Sharks, we will really bring it to them.”

Elliot scored his first try in the red and blue on Sunday at Hunter Stadium since arriving in Newcastle last month and feels he’s settled in well at his new Club.

“I’m starting to find my feet here in the team and I am really liking Newcastle, so it’s good," he concluded.

The Knights take on the ladder-leading Sharks this Sunday at Shark Park but return to Newcastle in Round 22 to kick off four games in a row on home turf.