Pearce-Paul will come up against his old club for the first time on Sunday, with the Tigers hosting the Knights in a top-four clash in Campbelltown.
After arriving in Newcastle from England in 2024, Pearce-Paul showed a stack of flair and potential at the Knights but was never really able to put it together consistently.
The 25-year-old has already scored as many tries this year as he did in 44 games at the Knights, with the Tigers entering a round in the NRL's top two for just the second time in 12 seasons.
"I had some really good times there (at Newcastle). When we played well, we played really well," Pearce-Paul said.
"But I feel like under Benji, I've been able to express myself more, and use my personal tools with things like the offloads.
"Having Benji, he wants everyone to play to their strengths. I like the ball a bit early, to be able to get that one-on-one and get an offload."
In four games at the Tigers, Pearce-Paul is averaging double the amount of offloads he did at the Knights while also busting more tackles.
That has helped make the Tigers' right edge one of the most effective in the competition this year, with almost half their tries coming through that channel.
"I feel like being in this system suits me better," Pearce-Paul said.
"One of the major moving points when I had a few conversations with Benji, it was what he wanted out of me for the team, and what he wanted me to do on the field.
"He told me exactly where he sees me, and said, 'if you want to be a part of that, this is where I see the team going'.
"I was sold pretty quickly after speaking to Benji. It was something I wanted to be a part of."
Newcastle are also a different side this year with Justin Holbrook having made changes to Adam O'Brien's old attack.
Even with Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown out injured they are averaging almost double as many points as last year, with a win this week able to mark their best start to a year since 2002.
"They're a great team, they've found some really good form, and they've had a lot of changes with their style of play," Pearce-Paul said.
"It will be a good game. It will be a weird one for me, it will be the first time I play against an old club. I'll be keen to get out there and play against some old mates."
11°C