Fresh off averaging just 14 points a game last season, Newcastle looked a different side with Brown at No.7 and fullback Kalyn Ponga firing in their 28-18 season-opening win over North Queensland.

In their first victory since last June, Newcastle scored five tries, with their 28 points marking what would have been their second-highest tally last season.

But more impressive was the way Newcastle shaped in their attack under new coach Justin Holbrook.

Five-eighth Fletcher Sharpe will undergo scans on his left knee this week, but in the 25 minutes he was on the field the Knights looked particularly dangerous.

When Sharpe was off, new halves recruit Smith took on more of the organising role and was able to combine nicely with Ponga at the back.

Brown had spoken last week about needing to be “more proactive than reactive”, taking on the chief organising role with the No.7 on his back and Sharpe alongside him.

But with Sharpe expected to miss at least the Knights’ next clash with Manly, Brown said he could happily revert to the way he played while wearing the No.6 at Parramatta.

“I feel like when I play with Sando, I know I can run a bit more,” Brown said.

“I don’t have to lead the team as much as I run because he’s got that dominant sort of role to his game.

“It’s something that just happens naturally.

“For example, Sando will call the ball on the short side. He’ll take it. He’ll call KP around.

“Whereas Sharpie, you can’t stop that kid. He’s picking the ball up off dummy half. He’s just running everywhere and that’s how we have to react to him.”

The other big factor in the Knights’ attack was Ponga at fullback and the fluency with which he regularly injected himself into play close to the line.

The Newcastle captain looks set to get the ball more often at first receiver in the new-look attack, as opposed to acting as a link man in sweep plays.

He kicked for Sharpe’s match-opening try, connected with Smith to break down field in the lead up to another and did the main piece of playmaking for a third.

“The more we’re touching the ball the better,” Ponga said of the Knights’ key spine players.

“We’re still working on our combinations and it’s where we’re best suited. But, I mean, one of us touching the ball regularly is not a bad idea.”