When he reflects on his first year under coach Adam O'Brien at the Knights, Greg Marzhew knows the most unpleasant conversations were also the most important ones.
As the barnstorming winger gets closer to helping Newcastle to a finals return – and enjoys a run of form that has him as one of the NRL's best attacking outside backs – Marzhew is making the very best of a situation that got off to a rough start.
After being brought to Newcastle from the Titans in a , Marzhew was overlooked for the opening three rounds this season when Hymel Hunt was the preferred option.
Once he did get into the NRL side, he was punted again for missing a team bus after the Round 15 loss to the Broncos, but returned a fortnight later and never looked back.
He has scored eight tries in as many games since then, which most recently included a first-half hat-trick that helped Newcastle to a 29-10 win over the Rabbitohs.
Knights v Rabbitohs - Round 25, 2023
The 26-year-old said O'Brien deserves much of the praise for his current run of form and admits the firm approach was exactly what he needed.
"It’s all a credit to the boys who have backed me, especially Adam O’Brien, who has backed me hard," Marzhew said.
"I like tough love; I can deal with tough love.
He [O'Brien] has been 100 percent honest with me with everything, so that has made it a lot easier to take on board his criticism.
Greg Marzhew
"That tough love has really helped me and made me want to work hard.
"I feel like I have the potential to play good footy and under the right coach I feel like I can provide, and this year has kind of just showed that."
A key driver in Marzhew's success has been Kalyn Ponga's return to fullback – and with it a return to near career-best form – while he's also formed a strong bond with left-side centre Bradman Best.
Heading into Round 26 Marzhew has 18 tries and is closing in on opposite wing Dom Young's 20, while both are now in reach of the club record of 21.
"He [Marzhew] is the best, we’ve formed a good connection on and off the field. He’s like a brother," Best said.
"He’s one of the best wingers in the game. When he’s on he’s unstoppable.
"He’s full of power, very strong in the gym and it shows when he breaks tackles every game."
The Knights head into Sunday's clash against the fifth-placed Sharks at McDonald Jones Stadium sitting seventh and with a top-four finish still a mathematical chance, but a finals return still not confirmed.
This article contains content that is only available on pan66.com
The match is expected to attract a huge turnout after last week's win over the Rabbitohs was attended by a crowd of 29,018, the highest at the venue since 2012.