Opinion
This is Part 13 of my series, speaking with fans from all NRL sides to see what it’s really like to support their team. This week, the Newcastle Knights.
From the very beginning, the Knights were welcomed with open arms by the Newcastle community and have forever remained the pride of this one team town.
(For the love of God, no one mention the Hunter Mariners).
Every week their loyal supporters would pack out the games, cheering on the likes of Paul Harragon, the Johns Brothers and Robbie O’Davis.
In 1997, fans witnessed one of the most exciting grand final finishes. Darren Albert crossed the try-line with seconds to spare, giving the Knights their first ever premiership.
Jubilation filled the Sydney Football Stadium. Emotion poured out onto the streets of Newcastle.
There was not a dry eye to be seen. It just meant so much.
Only four short years later, the Knights were holding up the trophy once more. It felt like they were on top of the world.
Then it all fell apart.
Nathan Tinkler chaos, Wayne Bennett anger, four wooden spoons, and so many unanswered questions. Newcastle was struggling, and their fans were hurting.
But rain, hail or shine, they were there. Win, lose or draw, they were there. In the crowd. In their jerseys.
Cheering their boys on. You would be hard pressed to find a more devoted fan-base then the red and blue army.
The last few seasons have seen the team start to turn it around, and the Knights fans are hoping the worst is finally behind them.
I spoke with two of those passionate fans, Novocastrians and co-hosts of the ‘Bay 53 Podcast’ talking all things Knights, Bretto and Kdog.
Kdog has been a fan since day one. “I lived in Newcastle, and my dad took me to all of the games. I haven’t looked back.”
Bretto also became a fan in their first year. “I was an Eels fan as a young kid but went to some Knights games in the inaugural 1988 season. I just had to be a fan of the local team. I’ve been addicted ever since.”
I asked what the best and worst part about being a Knights fans was.
“Being part of something that means so much to so many,” Bretto replied. “No team means as much to their local community as the Knights, and home games are like no other in the league.
“The worst part is definitely the lack of success over the last 20 years.”
“The Knights team itself is by far the best and worst part about being a fan” added Kdog. “Their performance in a game will sometimes determine if I’m going to have a happy week or not, and they are just historically one of the most inconsistent teams you could imagine.”
Speaking of inconsistent, Kalyn Ponga was expected to be the next big thing, but his greatness seems to come in waves. Do the guys think he will reach the peak that many predict?
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
“I think KP gets adversely and harshly judged as a sort of reaction to the coverage he gets, which is a shame,” Kdog answered.
“Statistically he matches it with the best, and much like Andrew Johns back in the day, our team’s fortunes can ride on his performances. I believe that KP can be anything on a footy field that he wants to be, and notwithstanding injuries, I think KP has that chance this year.”
“I have no doubt he will be seen as a great of the game when he retires,” Bretto added. “He’s still a young man and with Pearce gone it’s now his team, so we’ll see him go to another level.”
With no premiership in 20 years, and four wooden spoons in that time, I asked why they thought the Knights haven’t been a real title threat for so long.
“There are a few reasons” Kdog explained. “For me, it all comes back to Andrew Johns. I think as a club we probably never really knew how to make the best of Johns playing for us. Then when he was gone, we were not prepared for him not playing. Add to that some unfortunate decisions off the field after Johns retired, it made success hard to come by.”
Bretto added: “We didn’t develop our own stars after the golden generation was gone and our recruitment was awful. You can’t win like that”.
After releasing Mitchell Pearce, and then Jayden Brailey rupturing his Achilles, there is much speculation around the Knights spine. Kdog thinks it will be Ponga at 1, Clune and Clifford at 6 and 7 with Randall to wear the 9.
“The trials in late February are even more important now given Jayden’s injury.”
Andrew Johns (Tony Feder/Getty Images)
“It’s definitely a concern,” Bretto added, “but we still have plenty of cap space and I think we’ll recruit an experienced half. Brailey will be back mid-season from his Achilles and hopefully we’ll still be in the hunt. We also have a few very good young hookers who I hope get a chance until then”.
There are rumours circulating that Anthony Milford could be bought in to the club for this year to help solve the spine issue. How would the fans feel about having Milf join the club, given his past issues?
“It’s a good football fit, but it’s a poor culture fit” admitted Bretto.
“I’m not sure what to make of it, given the clubs stance is still officially no interest,” Kdog replied.
“Hopefully the club has the players, the team’s, the game’s and the town’s best interest in making any decision”.
One of those in charge of that decision is coach Adam O’Brien. Is he the right man to lead the Knights?
“100 percent AOB is the man to coach us” Bretto responded. “He’s got a tremendous work ethic and has come through under two of the greats in Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson. He’s a young coach who has put his hand up and taken blame for a few things that have gone wrong. I think he’ll be here longer than any coach in our history.”
Kdog agrees but knows there is still a lot to be done. “Adam for me has been the coach we absolutely needed over the last two years. From the outside looking in, I get the feeling Adam might have told some of the players a few facts of life. This year is a bit of make-or-break for Adam. We really need to keep improving.”
Sticking with the topic of coaches, Knights’ fans are very excited that Andrew Johns has come home to join the staff, hoping he is the secret ingredient to success. But it’s not like the other teams he has helped coach the past few years have won premierships because of him. Will he have as much impact as fans hope?
“I think Andrew’s coaching is a little misunderstood” Kdog explained.
“He has only ever been hired as a halves or attacking coach. Manly, Roosters, the Eels, you could argue that their halves have played better with Andrew’s influence. Even the Roosters, some of their fans note that he left at the beginning of 2018, but when the Roosters brought Cronk in, you wonder if Andrew thought he couldn’t add much more.”
Bretto defended the eighth immortal.
“Joey lifts the place. Other clubs got the X’s and O’s Joey – but the Knights will get a lot more from him. It’s already noticeable how much of a positive influence he’s had on KP. Being a superstar in Newcastle comes with unique challenges and nobody can help KP with that better than the GOAT.”
Star centre Dane Gagai is also returning to the club, and the guys are both ecstatic about it.
“He’s what we needed most” Bretto replied. “An experienced outside back with versatility. His off-field influence will be just as important for young guns like Bradman Best and Dom Young.”
Kdog added “Dane has come home. It is good to have him back.”
Dane Gagai is back in Newcastle. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The majority of Newcastle fans reply ‘Andrew Johns’ when asked who their favourite ever Knights player is. From the guys’ comments already today, I didn’t think they would be in the minority. I was right.
“Joey is the GOAT and that will never change” Bretto said proudly. “He brought me so much joy and love for footy. KP is my current favourite. It’s a long time since we’ve had a superstar and the things he does blow my mind”.
Kdog agreed. “Andrew Johns is the greatest footy player I have ever seen with my own eyes. I still think some people in Newcastle take for granted how lucky we are to have him as one of our own. As for present, it’s hard to go past Kalyn. KP makes me as excited about the game as Andrew did for me when I was 20”.
Like most fans, Kdog just can’t wait to get back out to the footy this season.
“Some of my closest social networks are through the footy. Not being able to attend games, to see friends, it’s been one of those disappointing side effects of the pandemic. As for big things, I think if KP stays fit, this is his team now, and if the team can chalk up enough wins, KP can push for the Dally M medal.”
“I want to see where this team can get to” Bretto replied. “I think we have a roster that can push well into the finals. I think this is the year that Bradman Best goes from being a young kid with a big reputation to being an elite player in his position. I also think Dom Young will emerge as a potential superstar”.
And as always, if they could say anything to the team, what would it be?
“Don’t die wondering” Kdog advised. “Sometimes it feels like you are holding back, and I have never known why. I have always believed that a fit and determined Knights team can be the best in the comp. I wish you believed in yourselves as much as us fans do”.
And I think Bretto is getting the Dan Murphy’s order ready.
“This town and the fans all over the country are 100 percent behind you. We believe that you can put us back where we belong and win our third premiership – kick starting a party that will make the 1997 celebrations look like an afternoon tea!”
The Knights will be doing all they can to secure that third premiership. And as always, their fans will be behind them every step of the way.
And for the record, this Newcastle supporter is part of the minority when it comes to my past favourite Knights player.
The jersey that I saved up for and bought as a kid with HARRAGON on the back is still one of my most prized possessions.
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