The NRL’s hottest team is targeting a grand final appearance as a minimum this season, with Newcastle centre Bradman Best declaring the Knights can beat any team in the competition.
Fresh from demolishing South Sydney 29-10 last Sunday for a seventh straight win, Best said his Knights have the look of a top-four side as they approach finals in lethal form.
They won’t end the regular season in the top four but could easily finish fifth or sixth for a home elimination final - handing an opposition team the task of heading to the Hunter and trying to stop the Newcastle juggernaut in front of 29,000 passionate fans.
“We're aiming for the top, grand final, that's the goal,” Best declared on Wednesday.
“We're a top-four side and we truly believe that.
“So we're here to shake up the comp, we truly believe we can take this team and do something with it.
“We've beat Melbourne, a top-four side, Warriors, a top-four side. We've put wins together and across the park … we're a really, really good team.”
Viewed in recent seasons as a high-potential player who hadn’t quite put everything together, Best’s career-defining year has been a mammoth factor in the Knights’ recent surge up the table.
He’s hit new marks in practically every statistical category, and turned on the style with six tries and five assists to go with 199 metres gained per game in Newcastle's recent winning run.
Having returned to pre-season training ahead of schedule - along with star fullback Kalyn Ponga - Best said digging deep over the summer had provided the fuel for his late charge.
"Coming in and training early, and making sure I'm getting my body and head right,” he said.
“That's held me in good stead on the field; week in, week out.
“The year I had (in 2022), I was disappointed with myself, felt like I let the team down and myself and this great club. I wanted to make sure I repaid the club.”
Knocking off Cronulla this weekend would effectively lock in a home final for the Knights, a fact not lost on Best.
“Another massive game and we know what's at stake,” he said.
“We're chasing that home semi-final and to beat Sharks this weekend, that's what we have to do.
“We're not looking past them. It's going to be a tough game and we're up for it.”
