After Monday night’s exhilarating win over the Melbourne Storm, Knights TV spoke to Jake Mamo, Akuila Uate and Nathan Ross in the dressing sheds at AAMI Park.
In what he describes as one of the highlights of his relatively short career, an elated Mamo opened up about the significance of the win against the Storm.
“I’m feeling great, there’s a great vibe in the sheds here,” Mamo said.
“It was a great performance by the boys tonight against such a highly regarded Melbourne team.
“They are on the run to their finals and we came down to spoil that."
The 21-year-old said the game was an amazing experience matching up against star players he watched play as a child.
“It’s definitely an experience playing against Copper Cronk and Cameron Smith,” he said.
“I thought about that coming into the game and what it would be like playing against guys that I’ve watched play State of Origin and for Australia for years and years."
It was a similar buzz for winger Ross, who played his fourth match in the NRL on Monday night.
“The boys put in a great effort. We played as a team and put it on Melbourne throughout the whole game,” Ross said.
“It was exciting, exhilarating and passionate from everyone.
“Everyone prepared well this week. Words can’t describe the feeling in the camp at the moment."
For Ross, stringing together back-to-back wins displays the team's desire to end a difficult season well.
"It shows we’re still a good team, we’re proud to be Newcastle Knights and we want to do a number for our fans, for our coach and more importantly, we want to do a number for each other," he added.
The fact a number of the side's members will depart the club at season's end, inlcluding skipper Kurt Gidley, provides even more motivation.
"Each week gets more and more surreal playing with these types of players because the knowledge that they are passing on to us is just tremendous," he said.
Playing on the opposite edge, Uate was proud of the team’s cohesion and resolve.
“I’m very excited, to come down here and get a win is an exciting thing,” Uate said.
“It’s just a great feeling winning in Melbourne, they are a great team.
“For us to win against them when they are coming into their semis is a good feeling.
"It was just what we were working on all week and that was talking and working together as a team and defence really.
"That won us the game last week and we wanted to do the same this week.
“All credit to the leadership group and to Bedsy (coach Danny Buderus)."
Despite the excitment and pride, the speedy winger had already shifted focus onto the red and blue's next challenge against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Hunter Stadium on Saturday for Old Boys Day.
“We only have five days turn around and give it our best in Old Boys Day," he added.
