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A crash involving a car and Newcastle Knights fans on Saturday morning left 10 people, including three children, hospitalised and cast a pall over the club's NRL grand final preparations against the Sydney Roosters.
A crash involving a car and Newcastle Knights fans on Saturday morning has left 10 people, including three children, hospitalised and cast a pall over the club's NRL grand final preparations against the Sydney Roosters.
Knights Bus Route Diverted
The incident occurred as the Knights players boarded their Sid Foggs coach for their journey to Sydney, forcing a diversion away from the designated route through Wallsend streets lined with hundreds of well-wishing supporters. The Knights knew something was amiss when their bus did not depart straight away, and when it did, it was diverted away from the planned route.
When we started the trip off, it was euphoria, said one passenger on the Knights bus, speaking anonymously 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 up being a very quiet bus, the passenger said. After a series of conversations with police, Newcastle director of football Chris James attempted to fill in the blanks as best he could.
They were shocked, it was a very sombre bus ride, said another passenger. Our fans mean everything to us. For that to happen; horrible. Everyone is rattled.
NRL Response and Grand Final Concerns
The gravity of the situation became apparent before the Knights had even disembarked, with NRL executive chairman Peter V'landys clearly shaken when contacted. Geez, it is bloody awful, V'landys said. We are just concerned about the victims. Knights players past and present met at the club's Centre of Excellence on Saturday morning before boarding the bus to Sydney.
Asked if the incident would impact on plans for the grand final, V'landys said: We are just concerned about the victims at the moment, that is all we are focusing on. Our thoughts are very much with those injured and anyone impacted by the events, not to mention the entire Knights community who have come together in jubilation to support their team.
The Knights had done a tremendous job of blocking out the noise and focusing on the job at hand this week, but the horrific crash has the potential to derail a potential fairytale premiership. How the shaken Newcastle players respond could well dictate the outcome of Sunday's clash against the Roosters. Knights players checked their phones as they left their hotel at Sydney Olympic Park for the captain's run at Accor Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Knights Prepare Despite Injuries
The underdog Knights have already overcome so much to get to the grand final, missing Dylan Brown, Phoenix Crossland, Daniel Saifiti and Trey Mooney due to injury or suspension, and they turned up with heavy hearts to their captain's run at 2pm on Saturday. Our thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with everyone who has been injured, their families and loved ones, and everyone who witnessed what occurred this morning, said Knights chief executive Peter Parr.
What was meant to be a special morning for our community, thousands of Novocastrians coming together to farewell our team and show their support ahead of the grand final, has understandably turned into a distressing morning, Parr said. The bus trip is the setting for many tales that have entered rugby league folklore, including in 1997 when captain Paul Harragon stood up in front of his teammates and declared: Boys, we ain't coming back here as losers!
Historic Rugby League Bus Moments
Then there is the 1985 State of Origin series. As the Blues bus brought the NSW players to the old Lang Park, upon approaching the Caxton Hotel, skipper Steve Mortimer ordered the driver to stop. Look at them! Mortimer screamed at his teammates as Maroons fans rocked the bus and threw projectiles at it.
They hate us. They are here to see us get beaten, but we are sending them home disappointed. This is where it all turns for us. Nobody said another word until the players ran onto the field for the opening game.
NSW won it, and then the second game, to claim the series for the very first time. However, Saturday's trip to Sydney was no place for a Mortimer or Harragon-esque speech. At some point early on Monday morning, the Knights will make the bus journey back to the community they proudly represent. They have just been given another reason, if one was required, to bring the premiership trophy with them.
theage
brisbanetimes:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
NRL Grand Final Bus Crash Peter V'landys Sydney Roosters
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