Veteran Newcastle playmaker Jarrod Mullen has put his hand up for the vacant captaincy position left by retired club great Kurt Gidley.

Mullen and incoming halves partner Trent Hodkinson are the favourites to take over the role but Mullen says he’s done it before and he can do it again.

I gotta take a lot more responsibility on my shoulders, which I have in the past couple of years,” Mullen told AAP.

“The captaincy’s helped me in the past, get myself mentally right for the game on and off the field.

“In 2013 when I got the captaincy when Gids was injured, we went alright then and I played some of my best footy then too.

“I like that extra responsibility and I think it’ll help my game.”

The Knights have lost a wealth of experience in the off season and will rely heavily on Mullen and fellow former New South Wales pivot Hodkinson.

Coach Nathan Brown has already ruled Hodkinson out of the Auckland Nines and it’s expected he’ll do the same with Mullen.