After three consecutive wooden spoons, the Newcastle Knights have recruited as well as any team for 2018. With a perfect mix of youth and experience, these recruits are set to Newcastle back to the finals – in a few years.

The Knights landed one of the biggest signings of 2018 before a ball was kicked this year, snaring highly-talented Cowboy’s youngster Kalyn Ponga on a four-year, $2.4 million deal.

After signing such a massive contract, it’s easy to forget Ponga will start the 2018 season at just 19 years of age. In the modern era, you don’t pay a player what he’s worth at the time, you pay him what he’ll be worth by the end of it. Sure, Ponga will deliver some stunning highlights in the Hunter in years to come, but don’t expect the teenager to hit the ground running.

The same can be said for five-eighth Connor Watson. He’s already shown some glimpses of brilliance in the NRL, winning the 2017 Auckland Nine’s Player of the Tournament. But he’s only 21. It’s extremely rare a half at such a young age could steer a team around consistently, especially when his expected halves partner in Brock Lamb has played fewer games than Watson.

Just give him a few years to hone his trade, because he will prove his worth.

Brisbane duo Herman Ese’ese and Tautau Moga have been quietly instrumental in Brisbane’s 2017 campaign. Ese’ese on average made over 100 metres in just 35 minutes a game coming off the pine for the Broncos, while Moga enjoyed his best season to date, his 3910 metres more than any Bronco made this year.

After missing out on their target Matt Scott early in the season, the Knights recruitment team settled for the next best option with Jacob Lillyman. Dropped from Origin after Game I, Lillyman returned to the Warriors to add some grunt up front, but it’s what he’ll add off the field that should excite Newcastle fans the most.

The Saifiti twins, Daniel and Jacob, have huge wraps put on them, and rightly so. Unfortunately for the brothers, the majority of Newcastle’s workload has been dumped on the 21 year-olds, and a lack of experienced hard men around to teach them the trade. With Origin experience, Lillyman is set to certainly help the development of the young powerhouses.

Aiden Guerra, another former Origin forward, is set to make up one of the best back-rows in the competition. Sione Mata’utia has been powerful since switching into the forward pack, Jamie Buhrer is as reliable a player as they come, and Mitch Barnett has that much-needed mongrel the side begs for. Honestly, who do you bench? A hard decision for coach Nathan Brown come Round 1.

Finally, premiership-winning utility Slade Griffin will compliment Danny Levi coming off the bench, and add further strike to a rising time.

Despite all of this, it isn’t going to happen overnight for the cellar dwellers. Patience, as it is in all things, is key for the future of the Newcastle Knights. Give the players room to grow, and they’ll flourish.

Sorry to say Knight’s fans, but you won’t make the finals next year. Probably not the year after. But 2020, watch out, they’ll give it a real shake. The only way is up for Newcastle, and that’s certainly the way they’re heading.