Spirit over skill: The unlikely undefeated Knights

Spirit over skill: The unlikely undefeated Knights

As we reach the end of round two, there are only three teams who remain undefeated in the NRL.

Sitting atop the ladder are Penrith, a side few expected to make an impact last season, yet ended up finishing just one game shy of their first grand final since 2003. With a fully fit roster, the Panthers have carried on their strong form, scoring tries at will, as was the case against the Gold Coast.

In second is South Sydney, ever since they performed the lap of honour last October, the Rabbitohs haven't looked like losing a match. Dominant performances against St. Helens and Brisbane were complemented by a determined showing over arch-rivals the Roosters in a match where they were tested, having to display their championship credentials to remain undefeated so far.

Sitting alongside Penrith and South Sydney are Newcastle. After suffering a horror 2014, the Knights have started the year with back-to-back wins over much more fancied opponents in the Warriors and Cowboys.

While the Panthers and Rabbitohs have based their wins on attacking prowess, the Knights have produced gritty defensive efforts and a willingness to pass the ball that was severely lacking during Wayne Bennett's reign.

On Saturday night, the Knights appeared destined to go down in North Queensland. Staring down a 14-0 deficit they could have easily opted to take the easy way out and allow their opponents to walk over them, as was the case throughout much of 2014.

Instead, they chose to exhibit some daring with their attack, producing a fantastic try to Joseph Leilua off the back of a kick from a scrum.

Under Bennett this sort of play was non-existent.

With Rick Stone back at the helm the Knights have shown a style of play that will bring fans back, while also playing with a defensive attitude reminiscent of the glory days of the club.

Throughout the second half the Knights withstood countless Cowboys attacking raids to keep them scoreless. Having stood up to the attack of North Queensland, the Knights again displayed a willingness to pass the ball coming up with tries to Akuila Uate and the match winner courtesy of Joseph Leilua.

Watching the match on Saturday night, it wasn't until they hit the front with five minutes remaining that the Knights looked like winning. They had been dominated throughout, struggled to get inside the Cowboys attacking zone and had to deal with a crowd against them, and yet their courage and willingness to stay in the match ultimately won them the game.

Few would have expected Newcastle to sit alongside the likes of Penrith and South Sydney at the start of the season, but after watching their opening two performances opposition teams will know they're in for a contest when the Knights come to town.

With only two rounds contested so far, it's too early to say whether the Knights are premiership contenders, but with the tenacity displayed so far things appear to have improved in the Hunter.