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Newcastle fans are showing immense support for their team ahead of the 2026 NRL grand final against the Sydney Roosters. Local tattoo artists are overwhelmed with bookings for commemorative designs, while community businesses are serving blue food-dyed sausages to rally support for the Knights in their quest for a first premiership in 25 years.
Newcastle Knights football fans are proving their loyalty by getting inked in the lead up to the 2026 grand final. What's next? It's been 25 years since the Newcastle Knights last played in an NRL grand final, and Newcastle has not forgotten how to celebrate.
From fresh tattoos to blue sausages, the city is going all out ahead of the decider against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday. Tattoo artist Dave Ross cancelled all his appointments this week to make space for footy fans itching to get one of his limited-edition Knights tattoos. Local tattoo artist Dave Ross says he is fully booked out with Newcastle Knights fans lining up to get commemorative tattoos.
"I get to spend the week tattooing Knights designs on all these diehard fans … it's been incredible. " Fifteen more tattoos have been booked in for later this week, with Mr Ross staying back until 9pm to get them done. "I'm a Knights tragic … I didn't think we would happen again in my lifetime," he said.
"I'm getting it on the back of my calf so I can look down every now and then and hopefully have fond memories of the grand final. " On the cusp of their first premiership in 25 years, local tattoo shops have jumped on the Newcastle Knights bandwagon.last grand final match against the Parramatta Eels in 2001. "People were cringing because you could literally hear the tattoo gun bouncing on my skull," he said.
"I was making jokes about how this is nothing to the pain that Newcastle are going to put on Parramatta. "Mr Battese said he's proudly displayed his tattoos for 25 years, including through five wooden spoon seasons, and hopes he can add a fresh tattoo this year to celebrate a third premiership. "It's a pork sausage and just added a little bit of food dye," manager Johnny Emeny said.
"We just wanted to get behind our mighty boys as they get to this grand final and no better way than throwing a few blue sausages on the barbecue," he said. Other Knights-themed foods like blue burgers in pubs and blue-and-red ice cream have also popped up around town. Like many Novocastrians, Cliff Parker remembers exactly where he was when the Knights won their first grand final in 1997.
Dressed in a suit of shining armour, Mr Parker and his trusty horse Rocky led the Knights team bus back through the city after their win against Manly.
"It was absolutely mad … I could not believe the amount of people lining the streets," Mr Parker said. For 25 years, Mr Parker and Rocky were the team's mascot, the Newcastle Knight, riding along the sidelines at home games to hype up the crowd before kick-off. Sammy Pistolas wears the original suit that his dad, Chris Kelly, wore as the Newcastle Knights' mascot, Sir Rusty.
"Dad would ride around the ground on a quad bike as Sir Rusty and have fun with the crowd … just goofing off," Mr Kelly's son, Sammy Pistolas, said.by tattooing Knights fans in the original Sir Rusty costume. "I think my Mum made it … the body piece is from the 1997 grand final, and the head piece is from the 2001 grand final," he said.
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