Adam O'Brien feels there will "be more written" about the Knights this season.
The Newcastle coach is quietly confident his team can recover from a lacklustre start to the 2025 campaign.
Saturday night's win over the Panthers – a convincing 25-6 result –could be just the platform needed to spark a top-eight push.
The Knights came into the clash with a 3-7 record, but a first-half onslaught saw them take complete control of the fixture.
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Second-rower Dylan Lucas bagged an unlikely hat-trick within 25 minutes as the visitors raced out to a 24-point lead.
It's worth noting that Penrith were without several of their stars, with Nathan Cleary, Brian To’o, Dylan Edwards, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo all called up for Origin duty.
However, O'Brien dismissed claims that this should dampen Newcastle's win, noting that a host of their "best" players are absent.
Kalyn Ponga is on Origin duty with Queensland, while Bradman Best, Leo Thompson, Greg Marzhew, Adam Elliott and Jacob Saifiti are among those sidelined with injury.
"I know a lot will be written [about an] understrength Penrith, but seven of our best players are out, so I don't want to hear that story," O'Brien said post-match.
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The Knights coach added that his side has what it takes to move up the ladder in the back half of the season.
"We’re a tight-knit playing group, staff, myself, the other coaches, all our staff, are connected to our leaders and then our whole squad," O’Brien said.
"We’ve shared tough times before together, and we’ve learned, so this isn’t anything new to us, and we knew that by being united, that’s our best chance ... and we’re not out of it yet.
"There’ll be more written about us at some point; we’ve just got to focus on putting in more performances like that, more often."