And the outpouring of love following last weekend's win over Penrith is not lost on members of Justin Holbrook's Knights squad as the city gears up for its biggest sporting occasion in years.
"People were waiting in the rain for the bus and there were fans just losing their minds," Knights lock Mat Croker said of the team's reception in Newcastle on Sunday.
"They followed us back to the centre of excellence, where there were hundreds and hundreds of people waiting for us.
"The vibe around town has been so good, everyone's really pumped."
Newcastle's fans have always prided themselves on turning out regardless of how their team has been travelling.
But the elation of Sunday's win, which set up a grand final meeting with the Sydney Roosters, has prompted an avalanche of support.
Not least for Dave Ross, a tattoo artist at the Electric Pantera Tattoo Parlour, who "can't keep up with the demand" for new ink.
Ross, 37, has had to cancel all his appointments this week to make space for Knights fans looking for a permanent reminder of their loyalty.
"I was 11 or 12 in 2001, I was lucky enough my parents took me and my brother down to the game," Ross said.
"I remember the '97 grand final as well. In '97, we had a big grand final party at our place and it seemed like half of Newcastle was there.
"I remember when Darren Albert went over and it was the biggest party. I don't think I saw my parents for a week after that, we were babysat by my grandma."
Down the road in New Lambton, Teigan and Samuel Jobbins have painted their house red and blue, and the bakery around the corner from the club's training ground is doing a roaring trade selling cupcakes iced in Knights colours.
The extra levels of adulation is something completely new for most Knights players, especially long-serving forward Pasami Saulo.
Saulo witnessed the Knights' lowest years first-hand and remembers the pain of the 2016 season when Newcastle won just a single game and finished last.
"It was a tough period and it hurt that we went through all those things," Saulo said.
"I'm only imagining how it could be (if we win), I feel like the town will go crazy because this town is such a footy town.
"Seeing what they did last week was unreal. I can't even put into words how it was, seeing it you got emotional because it was such a great feeling."
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