‘Our fans mean everything to us’: Crash set to cast pall over grand final

October 3, 2026 — 3:52pm

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In his final pre-game media conference, Newcastle coach Justin Holbrook maintained that the emotion of grand final week would not overwhelm his Knights charges as they attempt to take the final step of a remarkable surge that has taken them from the very bottom to the brink of the NRL summit within 12 months.

That comment was made at about 8.45am on Saturday morning. Within 45 minutes, the goalposts shifted.

It was then, just as the players boarded their Sid Foggs coach for their journey to Sydney, that a dark cloud was cast over the biggest day on the rugby league calendar.

The Knights knew something was amiss when their bus didn’t depart straight away – and when it did, was diverted away from the designated route through Wallsend streets lined with hundreds of well-wishing supporters.

“When we started the trip off, it was euphoria,” said one of the passengers on the Knights bus, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. “It was incredible, there were people everywhere, it was awesome.

“And then it was, ‘Why are we going here?’ Little murmurs started. And then they came to address us … it put a downer on everything. What started as euphoria ended........

© WA Today