Knights coach Wayne Bennett has praised the quality of depth in the club after an under-strength Newcastle side flogged the North Queensland Cowboys 34-6 on Monday night.
The Knights were missing five regular starters including skipper Kurt Gidley, veterans Willie Mason and Timana Tahu as well as in-form centre Dane Gagai and hooker Travis Waddell.
In addition back-rower Beau Scott lasted only five minutes of the match after succumbing to a chronic groin injury.
But the players who took their place all shone for the Newcastle outfit. Tyrone Roberts starred at halfback with a sparkling performance that included a try and five goals, while utility Alex McKinnon also featured heavily after starting in the centres.
Forwards Korbin Sims and David Fa'alogo had excellent debuts for the club while Adam Cuthbertson also played well from the bench in his first match this season as did Robbie Rochow.
'We were lucky that we could lose so many players and have some quality ones to replace them,' Bennett said after the match.
'We had three first grade centres out and two hookers missing so we all had to put our hands up a bit and play in different positions.
'He (McKinnon) has never been a centre but he is skilful and smart enough to play there that is one of his great attributes.
'David Fa'alogo, Korbin Sims looked like they had been there for all their careers, they were tremendous. They kept the momentum going and I couldn't have been more happier with those two players.
'Cuthbo (Cuthbertson) was really good too. He come in for the first time this year. He was just running straight with more commitment with his runs.
'We lost Beau (Scott) in the first five minutes but again Robbie Rochow jumped in there and didn't miss a beat. Robbie played the whole game. Chris (Houston) was outstanding and did a great job out there as captain.
'I was confident about our depth because we have deliberately tried to work on that as well.'
Bennett also praised the performance of pivot Jarrod Mullen who had contributed an outstanding kicking game to drive his side around the park and he teamed up brilliantly with Roberts in the halves to dominate Johnathan Thurston and Michael Morgan.
'Our forwards were getting forward and he (Mullen) was playing off the back of that and the kick chase was outstanding,' Bennett said.
'It was all about pressure and we kept applying it. Jarrod did have a great kicking game. You see Aku (Uate) and McManus and all those getting their tries and they are coming off Jarrod's passes as well, he is taking them to the line and all those things he has to do.
'Tyrone is a talented player we all know that and after what he went through last year it helped him be the player he is going to be this year and we will see a lot more of him.'
At this stage Bennett said that he is unsure whether Gidley will be back for Sunday's match against the Raiders but he said the form of Roberts has given the Knights coach the luxury of not having rush back his skipper.
'It was a bit weird what happened (with Gidley) we had no idea he had a problem.
'I saw him in the physio room before training (on Sunday) and that is usually a bad sign when you see him in that room before training and he said he felt his calf was a bit sore from training on Friday. So he went out and trained but it just didn't get any better.
'We he woke up this morning it felt a bit stiff still, so we didn't want to risk it. We are in that situation with Willie and I would rather have him out for a week than a month.'
The Knights mentor welcomed back veteran leader Danny Buderus who made his first start this campaign after back surgery in the off-season. Bennett is also confident Tahu will return to the squad this weekend but he said that Mason (calf), Waddell (hamstring) and Gagai (ankle) would almost certainly still be sidelined.
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