He's one of the game's greats, and former NSW State of Origin hooker Danny Buderus is liking what he has seen in recent months from the young crop of talent at the Penrith Panthers.
After starting the season in horror form and pushing Phil Gould out the door, the Panthers are now humming as many expected them to and after seven straight wins see themselves entrenched in the NRL's top eight.
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And Buderus, who played 257 games for the Knights as well as 21 Origin's, told Macquarie Sports Radio on Tuesday that the youthful injection to the side has given them a much-needed boost heading into the business end of the season.
"There’s some really good signs at Penrith and the best thing is that their attack is starting to get to where everyone thought it would at the start of the year," he said.
"You can build a lot of things around a guy like Mitch Kenny, he’s obviously got a lot of ability, but the thing is he’s got so much energy and enthusiasm to play the game and he won’t let anyone down.
"He plays every game like it’s his last and you can see the affect it has had on the guys out there at Penrith.
"They have a couple of other guys there – Liam Martin was playing really well but he hasn’t played for a couple of weeks, and Brian To’o out on that left wing is putting his signature on everything and playing some good footy."
The Panthers now sit in 7th place but are three points clear of the 9th-placed New Zealand Warriors, and have a rather favourable run into the semis.
The club also announced on Tuesday morning that young gun Spencer Leniu has re-signed and will remain with the club until the end of the 2021 season.
Buderus also touched on his former club's thrashing at the hands of the Sydney Roosters on Saturday - and believes the reigning premiers are starting to hit their straps as the pressure heats up.
"You could just see the other day that the Roosters were about to get ready for the run home and defend their title," he said.
"Jake Friend is a big loss for the Roosters, but they have been getting along all year with different players and combinations and I think they are about to hit their straps."
The Roosters will take on the Bulldogs in Round 19, while the Knights will look to bounce back when they face the Tigers in a match that will have huge finals implications for both clubs.