Sunday, 4 May 2025:

Fletcher Sharpe has credited conversations with Andrew Johns for helping instil the confidence he's needed in his switch to five-eighth at Newcastle.

Sharpe had his best game since moving from the outside backs to the halves as the Knights pumped South Sydney 30-4 at Magic Round on Saturday afternoon.

On his 21st birthday, the Hunter local scored three tries, helping to dispel doubts over the Knights' ability to rely on Sharpe and halfback Jack Cogger for points.

All the best of Sharpe's game was on show at Suncorp Stadium: his confidence to play off the cuff, his support running, his electric pace.

Sharpe said the greatest halfback of modern times Johns, a fellow Cessnock Goannas junior, had been helping him find his feet in the halves - including on game day ahead of the win over Souths.

"I talked to him today, actually," Sharpe said.

"He puts confidence in me, he says, 'Just back yourself, you're a young, exciting player, don't go away from your first instinct. Just back that'.

"He's the best halfback to play the game so to have his confidence is pretty special."

It's a message that has been reiterated by Knights coach Adam O'Brien and his offsiders.

"The coaching staff's been really good on telling me to back my first instinct. What I see first, go with that," Sharpe said.

"'Adzie' said to me at the start of the year, 'This is your position, you want to work hard for it, earn that spot'. That's what I'm trying to do each week."

The Knights scored only 36 points across their five consecutive losses prior to the Souths game but O'Brien stuck solid with Sharpe and Cogger rather than recall out-of-favour halfback Jackson Hastings.

Sharpe said criticism of the halves' creativity was "part of the game" when results were lacklustre.

"When things aren't going your way, you're always going to cop a bit of that," he said.

"We've been working hard, we've been confident in what we're doing."

Knights captain Kalyn Ponga suggested those doubting Sharpe would do well to consider his age.

The young gun has played only 20 games so far, just eight of those at five-eighth.

"He's only 21, I think we're all sort of forgetting that as well. It's only his second year in the NRL and it's not a position he's familiar with," Ponga said.

"He's a natural footy player, he puts himself in good positions through effort. He's still learning that position both on the defensive side and the attack side. His best footy is just footy, it's just instinctive, eyes-up.

"I'm happy for him."

AAP