The extreme heat and bushfire haze that greeted the Knights' preseason camp in Tamworth in late 2019 was replaced by a near-perfect morning as the side staged the first training session for their latest camp.
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Newcastle could not have scripted a better start to their week-long stay in Tamworth, a destination the club has strong ties with and regards as being part of their sphere of influence.
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Farrer - whom the club has a longstanding relationship with - was at its resplendent best for Tuesday's training run.
Knights coach Adam O'Brien said the players had commented on the greenness of the surrounds around Farrer compared to the grimness of last year, when the region was beset by drought.
He said: "We consider this place our region. We enjoy coming up here."
O'Brien, a second-year Knights coach, said Newcastle's Tamworth sojourn was vital in terms of establishing the foundation for a successful season, as they look to improve on a seventh-place finish in 2020.
"I firmly believe that a strong preseason will set you up for a strong season," he said.
Dynamic Knights No 1 Kalyn Ponga will again be instrumental to the side's fortunes. O'Brien said the 22-year-old superstar was recovering well from shoulder surgery.
A shirtless Ponga looked in great shape as he stretched, rap music blaring, ahead of training on Tuesday.
"He's working extremely hard," O'Brien said of Ponga. "The physios, the specialist are all really happy with him. He had a consultancy last week with a specialist: he's more than on track."
O'Brien said while no "definitive" date had been set for Ponga's return, he did not "expect it to be too long into the season".
As for the sexting controversy surrounding Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce, O'Brien said it had not adversely impacted on the playing group. He was "really pleased with how connected the group are".
"To a man, they understand," he said. "Look, it was unfortunate, but it's not gonna derail our season ... We've already moved on."
Pearce stood down as Newcastle captain after he sent what were described as "flirty" text messages to a female Knights staffer.
Those messages were discovered by her longtime partner, resulting in the abandonment of Pearce's December 29 wedding to Kristin Scott, a classically trained ballet dancer. A number of Knights players are understood to be close friends with the staffer's partner.
O'Brien said no decision had been made on Pearce's replacement as captain.
With a season of head-coaching under his belt, O'Brien said he felt "better prepared" this year.
"Things seem to be running a lot smoother this year because, naturally, everyone has a better understanding of each other," said the former Storm assistant coach.
On Wednesday, the Knights will be involved in a number of community-engagement activities, including a visit to the children's ward at Tamworth Hospital and the staging a junior football clinic at Farrer.
