Mitchell Pearce says improved attack and belief would benefit Newcastle Knights

The departing Knights No.7 also has no doubts that Kalyn Ponga has "the skills" to play in the halves.

There are others at the club Pearce believes could "step up".

Whoever gets the job, Pearce said it was essential for the Knights to have a stronger focus on the attacking side of the game.

The Knights had the second-worst attack - behind only Canterbury - last season, despite finishing seventh.

"There's a big defence focus up there," Pearce said in an interview on Big Sports Breakfast radio show on Wednesday.

"I think Newcastle could really tidy some things ... around some attack stuff and I know they're focusing on that a bit.

"And then I think just mentally. Belief week in, week out. I think that's the difference between playing in a team when I won a comp or made grand finals with the Roosters or the really good sides I played with there. I think it's a belief thing week in, week out."

The 32-year-old was released from the final year of his Knights contract on Monday and has joined French Super League club Catalans on a lucrative three-year deal.

His exit frees up about $650,000 in the salary cap.

There has been plenty of speculation regarding possible replacements for the former NSW No.7 and, on Tuesday, Knights general manager of football Danny Buderus told media the club were not necessarily on the hunt for a halfback and were exploring their options, including the possible recruitment of a fullback.

Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers) and Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys) appear targets for Newcastle but both have two years left on their deals. The shift of star fullback Kalyn Ponga to the halves is another possibility.

"Kalyn could no doubt play five-eight at a point in his career with all of the skills he's got and the player he is," Pearce said.

"There's obviously lots of talk about Luke Brooks. I'm a massive fan of Luke Brooks. I think he's been a really good first-grader for a really long time, played a lot of games and he's a good halfback.

"But, he's obviously been in a team that's been up and down as well for a long period of time, and that's hard as a halfback.

"So, I know if he went up there around the forwards he's got up there, the way the club is moving forward, obviously making the finals, I think it would be a really good move for him and the club and allows Kalyn to stay at fullback.

"But I'm not the coach or recruitment officer, so my opinion doesn't mean much.

"But I'd like to see Brooksy go up there. If not, Jake Clifford's obviously a really talented player and there's good halves coming through up there too. So, it's their time and someone's got to step up and grab it, and that's what happens in footy. Clubs move forward and I'm sure they'll be great."

After playing 309 games in the NRL, highlighted by a premiership with the Roosters in 2013, Pearce said it was time for a change.

"To be honest, even just being in the same system, doing the same thing for so long now, it just felt like the time was right and this opportunity came up," he said.

"At the start, I was committed to Newy for another year and I'm not someone who just gives up and walks away, so I put a lot of thought into.

"I just knew that I want to give 100 per cent to where I'm at and I think something was really stimulating me about going overseas and experiencing a new culture, new people and a new style of footy and I'm looking forward to it."

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