In 2016 the Newcastle Knights endured a historic low, winning only a single game – the fewest victories recorded by any team in the past 60 years – and they finished the year with their third consecutive wooden spoon amid severe financial turmoil.

Even as the on‑field results collapsed, the supporters never abandoned the club. The Knights recorded higher average attendances than three of the teams that made the finals that year, and even out‑drew the crowds of their celebrated 1997 premiership season.

The lone triumph came in Round 6 when Newcastle edged the Wests Tigers 18‑16. A fan‑thrown ball led to a forced error by Tigers winger Jordan Rankin, allowing prop Korbin Sims to set up the decisive try.

A decade later the Knights have turned that solitary win into a grand‑final appearance. Only Dane Gagai, who played in the 2016 campaign, remains in the current squad, linking the two eras directly.

"The fans still kept turning up. There was still 20,000 people at a game, Knights jerseys on, even after back‑to‑back spoons," said Gagai. "To be able to be in this position now and give these fans what they deserve, I couldn't be more proud to be a Newcastle Knight."

Former captain Trent Hodkinson echoed the sentiment: "The first thing that comes to mind is the loyalty from the fans. No matter how tough we were doing it on the field they'd rock up in numbers." He added, "We were trying our best to win for them, we really were, but we were deep in that rebuilding phase."

The Knights’ story illustrates how sustained community support, combined with relentless effort from players and staff, can transform a club from the brink of oblivion to genuine contenders, offering a powerful lesson in resilience for any organisation.