Newcastle fans revel in first grand final for 25 years

Morgan Reinwald and Annabelle Banfield |

Newcastle Knights supporters at Accor Stadium created a special atmosphere at the NRL grand final.
Newcastle Knights supporters at Accor Stadium created a special atmosphere at the NRL grand final.

If fan passion could power a team to an NRL premiership the Knights would be a certainty, with the entire city of Newcastle seemingly turning out to cheer their team in the grand final. 

With tickets to the Accor Stadium title decider against the Sydney Roosters proving scarce, Newcastle fans packed pubs around the city, while more than 22,000 poured into McDonald Jones Stadium – the Knights home ground – to watch the game together on the big screens .

Long-suffering fans hadn’t seen their team in a title decider for 25 years and did their best to will their heroes home.

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Newcastle fans dominated the 80,814-strong crowd at the stadium in Sydney. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Diehard supporter, 36-year-old Luke Lawson, was born and raised in the city and said no other club had the heart of Knights fans.

“All week there has been a massive buzz around the town. It’s just insane,” he told AAP.

“I don’t reckon you’d get this at any other club in the NRL. Like, tell me another club that would have this.”

The NRL honoured Newcastle fans involved in the horrific crash on Saturday along the grand final parade route, casting a moment of silence over the Sydney Stadium. 

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Fans showed their passion in Sydney and also in Newcastle, where they packed their home ground. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

It was a nervous atmosphere at both venues in the opening minutes as the Knights started the game under the pump. 

The Novocastrians found their voice when Francis Manuleleua crossed over for the first try of the evening, 15 minutes in. 

The Knights faithful was truly sent into raptures when skipper Kalyn Ponga ran 95m off after snapping up a loose ball to double Newcastle’s lead. 

Up north beer was thrown into the air across the stands, with fans jumping and hugging in exaltation.

Chants of ‘Newcastle’ rang out around McDonald Jones, willing their team onto a first half shut-out that was spoiled by a late Mark Nawaqanitawase try for the Chooks. 

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Despite a gutsy effort for 80 minutes, the Knights fell one point short. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

While the 12-6 half-time lead kept the energy high, hopes of a first premiership in a quarter-century were dented by Nawaqanitawase’s second try in the 59th minute to give his team the lead.

The Knights continued to fight hard and a 76th minute try by Greg Marzhew raised late hopes, but the real party in Newcastle was put on ice, for another year at least.

AAP