Newcastle find their identity, rediscover their mojo

After winning back-to-back games in the last fortnight, Newcastle Nathan Brown is convinced his Knights have finally found their identity.

After winning just one of their opening six games, Newcastle halted their horror run with a victory over Parramatta in round seven before producing their best performance of the year to down the Warriors 36-18 in Auckland.

Brown said the last two weeks have shown his men are now comfortable in their style.

"I'm convinced they actually understand what type of team we are now," Brown said.

"We've got eight or nine new players in the top 19 or so, and I think they are understanding what type of team we are and what we need to do to help ourselves be in a situation to do well.

"The more the guys understand that the more chance we are of giving ourselves a shot each week.

"We started the year reasonably well, lost a few games very closely, and then obviously went into a really poor period there.

"Parramatta last week was really good and tonight over here was really good."

The victory at Mt Smart Stadium was Newcastle's biggest of the year and included five line breaks and 32 tackle busts on their way to scoring five tries.  

Kiwi international Shaun Kenny-Dowall, who crossed for Newcastle's second try and ran for 179 metres on the wing, told NRL.com his side had turned a corner after last month's 38-14 drubbing at the hands of the Titans.

"I think the Gold Coast was a bit of a turning point for us, a bit of a reality check of where we were as a team," Kenny-Dowall said.

"We worked out pretty quickly after that what it takes to win football games. We have got to a bit of a lightbulb moment at this point of the season.

"What that means for us is competing hard and knowing you have got to earn the right to play rugby league.

"We have got the players where if we create those foundations, we have got enough football in us to come up with some points."

Brown meanwhile appeared unconcerned by Kalyn Ponga being placed on report for tripping in the 10th minute and was confident his star fullback would be available play the Bulldogs in the NRL Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

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Ponga went on to be a key difference in Auckland, scoring 20 points via a try, four penalty goals and four conversions.

"I think it will cost him 1500 hundred, I think that's what it costs them doesn't it?" Brown said when asked what he made of the alleged trip.

"He's got enough money, I think he'll handle that."