Former Newcastle Knight and current strength coach Craig Smith caught up with the players following the team's captain's run in Melbourne ahead of Saturday's game against the Melbourne Storm.
It's a game Sione Mata'utia is eager to be a part of after returning from a one match suspension in Round 4.
"I'm trying to make it up this week against a quality side. We are really confident we can come down here and get the win," he said.
Mata'utia met up with the extended squad in Melbourne on Tuesday after the team arrived from new Zealand following their Round 4 loss.
"The boys are good, having a week away from family, it's like a home away from home," he said.
"The boys have been mingling well and are all looking forward to the clash tomorrow.
"I think our combinations are still trying to get it right. We trained really well this week."
Jacob Saifiti looks to back up last week's strong performance that saw the young forward play 80 minutes against the Warriors.
"My preparation has helped me a lot, I want to play 80 minutes again," he said.
"After the loss, the boys have been in good spirits and I think that will help with tomorrow."
After last weekend's loss, Nathan Ross says the Knights intend play a much higher quality of football.
"We are building towards something good and that will be this weekend," he said.
"We need to put two halves of football together, hopefully we can hold momentum together and come away with the win.
"We are focusing a lot on us because as soon as we get our game right, then we will start performing.
"You can see that in patches.
"Melbourne aren't a team you can give too much slack to because they are a very disciplined team."
While Ross acknowledges Saturday's match will be a challenge, he says the Knights are detirmined to earn a much needed win.
"A win would build a lot of momentum and would give our boys, especially the younger boys a lot of confidence rolling into the Tigers game," he said.
The 21-man squad remains in Melbourne, with coach Nathan Brown announcing his 17-man team one hour prior to kick off on Saturday.
The Newcastle Knights play the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park at 3pm on Saturday.
