Pain following surgery left Tyson Gamble wanting to cut his hand off but the Newcastle five-eighth insists he is now fully fit and ready to act as the Knights’ super-sub in the NRL finals.

Gamble made a miraculous return to the field on Sunday only 18 days after surgery to repair a broken hand, starting from the bench during a 14-6 defeat of the Dolphins that confirmed Newcastle’s finals berth.

Gamble had broken the third metacarpal in his right hand making a tackle on Ronaldo Mulitalo during the Knights’ golden-point loss to Cronulla last month, and had a metal plate and several screws inserted into his hand as part of his surgery.

But when doctors told Gamble he’d have the chance to return to the field this season, the 28-year-old was sceptical.

“I didn’t feel like it straight after surgery. I wanted to chop my hand off because I was in that much pain,” he told AAP.

“But the swelling went down pretty quick and the pain is pretty much non-existent now.

“They weren’t worrying about it breaking again, they were worried about the actual wound (from the surgery) opening back up. But luckily it’s all good.”

Tyson Gamble with Bradman Best. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

Jack Cogger took Gamble’s place next to halfback Phoenix Crossland during his injury absence, marking the eighth time this season Newcastle had changed their halves pairing.

When Cogger and Crossland found immediate chemistry to help the Knights score 36 points in consecutive weeks – their highest total for the season – Gamble knew he would struggle to reclaim his starting spot.

“I don’t think you can really move Phoenix and ‘Cogs’,” he said.

“They’ve been really good, Phoenix on that left edge has been defending unbelievable. He hasn’t really overplayed his hand at all.

“‘Cogs’ taking over the team on that right edge as well has been really good.”

Gamble played a roving role after coming on for the final 16 minutes of the win over the Dolphins, offering cover in the halves and the ability to play through the middle.

He is keen to reprise his bench role for the sudden-death finals clash with North Queensland on Saturday night and promises to have more impact than against the Dolphins.

“I was running around a bit like a headless chook, I was a bit lost,” he said.

“I don’t come off the bench often and coming on at the end of the game is a bit different.

“I was trying to do a little too much and come up with a few plays that weren’t all that great. I’ll learn from it.

“I’m happy to play off the bench and just do what the coach wants me to do from there. As long as I’m playing, I’m happy.”

O’Brien claims upper hand

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien believes his side are better prepared for a tight elimination final than highly-fancied opponents North Queensland.

The Knights clinched eighth spot on the ladder with a gritty 14-6 defeat of the Dolphins last Sunday, the last game in a solid six-week run that helped them grab the last remaining finals spot.

Newcastle found themselves in tight losses to top-four sides Cronulla and Penrith during that period, having also navigated close starts against South Sydney, Wests Tigers and Gold Coast before kicking away.

The Cowboys have been mainstays of the top eight since the State of Origin period and are favourites with the bookmakers ahead of Saturday night’s home game.

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But recent history has left O’Brien feeling the Knights may have a trump card over the Cowboys, whose past four games have been decided by an average margin of 27 points.

“I just feel like we’re ready for a tight battle, and I’d say we’re more ready than what the opposition are,” O’Brien said.

“They’ve had some really big blowout scorelines and they haven’t had a real tight contest in a while. I think that puts us in good stead.”

(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Across the past six weeks the Knights conceded an average of 16 points, more than a converted try less than the 23 they had typically leaked over the preceding 20 games.

Newcastle have also conceded the fewest points of any finals team across their past four games, their 55 points against considerably better than reigning premiers Penrith, the next best side on 70.

O’Brien credited new halfback Phoenix Crossland for helping inspire the side’s new defensive resolve since shifting from hooker six weeks ago.

“He’s been a big part of why we’ve leaked the least amount of tries in the last month or so,” O’Brien said.

The coach feels his side is approaching finals differently from last season, when fullback Kalyn Ponga hit Dally M Medal-winning form to inspire a 10-game winning streak.

“I think we’re a lot more battle-hardened this year,” O’Brien said

“Last year certainly winning 10 games, we were a little bit busted towards the end, we lost some key guys in Fitz (Lachlan Fitzgibbon) and Jacko (Jackson Hastings), Kalyn with his shoulder.

“We’re in a much different spot, health wise.”

Second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul is a chance to return from a gruesome leg injury to face the Cowboys, but prop Jacob Saifiti likely needs a week more to recover from his calf issue.

Kini wants to be a Kiwi

Gold Coast fullback Keano Kini was third choice No.1 at the start of 2024 but has capped an extraordinary season by winning the Titans’ player-of-the-year award.

The 20-year-old Paul Broughton Medal winner is on the cusp of making his New Zealand Test debut in the Pacific Championships and is expected to be named in the Kiwis extended squad.

Titans captain and Kiwis veteran Kieran Foran has been vocal behind the scenes for Kini to play in the post-season Tests, and coach Stacey Jones will find it hard to leave him out.

“It would mean everything. I am still waiting and hoping (to be included),” Kini said.

“My dad and my family are all proud Kiwis. It is a dream of mine to pull on a Kiwi jersey. (Jones) is one of my dad’s all-time players and a legend of the game. It would be an honour to play under Stacey.”

Foran, who played in last year’s 30-0 win over Australia in the Pacific Championships final, will be unavailable due to planned ankle surgery.

Kini was in the squad last year but did not get on the field.

Such was his Titans club form this year Kini was preferred to Jayden Campbell at No.1 and kept Queensland representative AJ Brimson out of the fullback spot when he returned from an injury lay-off.