Newcastle halfback Jarrod Mullen has backed Ben Rogers to finally take ownership of the club's five-eighth position and help him lead the Knights into the NRL finals.

It's taken until round 19, but Rogers has finally strung three consecutive matches in the top grade together, and it has coincided with the Knights managing their first three-win run of 2010.

Injury and inconsistent form has seen him play just seven times all season, and coach Rick Stone has gone back and forth between Rogers and Scott Dureau (nine matches) as Mullen's offsider in the halves.

But after a strong performance by Rogers in Newcastle's win over Cronulla on Sunday, Mullen declared the erratic Penrith junior had his full support.

"He's a competitive player and he wants to be there and make the No. 6 jumper his own, so I'm backing him and hopefully he can do it for us," Mullen told AAP.

"He played very well and he's helped me out there a lot more, and the challenge for him is backing up week in week out.

"He has some great games and then he can sort of fall off the ball a bit and not have such a great game, but I think he's capable of it, he's just got to get his head right and I think if he does that he'll be a big part of our team."

Rogers has scored two tries this season - one against the Tigers in round 11 and the other against the Sharks on Sunday - by running the ball to the line and using his dynamic footwork.

Although he doesn't quite have his speed, Rogers isn't unlike Brad Fittler in his ability to step a long way off both his right and left feet and use his size to break through the line.

Rogers said the fact he's running the ball more means his confidence is up and that's exactly what the team wants and Mullen needs.

"That's one thing Stoney has been at me about the last couple of weeks, and Gids (captain, Kurt Gidley) as well. They've been into me about running the ball, and that's my go. Run first and pass second is the best for my footy," Rogers declared.

"I had a bit of a joke with Stoney, he was talking about the left (step), and I said, `well, I'll bring a couple of the right ones out for you this week'.

"(Running more) might take a bit of heat off (Mullen). If he's steering the team around and it's easy for me to sit back at second receiver and if I want the pill I just tip him off and he'll fire it to me and I'll go from there. I suppose it would complement him, yeah."

Rogers admitted consistency is a hurdle he needs to overcome.

"We've strung a couple together over the past couple of weeks ... which is good to build momentum towards the end of the year, and obviously I'm the same personally," he said.

"I've been in and out with injury and selection all year but I'd like to play some good footy and build some momentum myself as well."

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