He has cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines over the past five months but with light at the end of the tunnel, Waters wants to hit the ground running and force his way back into the starting XV.
And with Edinburgh next up in the league, the back row forward is eager to prove his worth to director of rugby Lyn Jones.
"I'd like to thank Lyn for giving me this chance," Waters told the South Wales Argus. "He has got a lot of faith in me and I want to repay him for that.
"Lyn said he has watched footage of me but needs to see me in the flesh, so it's up to me to impress.
"I'm so excited to be back and it's a great chance for me - I've worked hard to get back and now I have to deliver what the coaches have asked of me.
"I need to get match fitness but if I can get a decent amount of minutes in Newcastle then I'd love to be in with a shout for Edinburgh (a week on Sunday).
"There are some big games left this season - especially the one against the Ospreys at the Millennium Stadium - but I won't be setting my sights too far.
"Competition for places in the back row is healthy and I just have to make sure that I am part of that."
Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on the RaboDirect PRO12