I was a kid when I went to my first Knights game.
There was just something about it that I'll never forget.
It was the early 1990s and the hill was packed on the eastern side of Newcastle's home ground. Standing room only. Crushed cans covering what previously resembled grass. Winter sun blaring in the afternoon. Crowd roaring.
Mark Sargent, a front-row forward for those who aren't familiar with one of the club's formative members, scored an unlikely hat-trick. I think it was against Canberra. I think the Knights won.
But most of that was probably irrelevant. To be honest, it was more like a rite of passage. Not only a day out with dad, something you've just got to do, at least once, as a Novocastrian.
Many had done it before. Many have done it since. And many are about to do it again, albeit quite amplified and down the road, this weekend.
The likes of Joey, Chief, Bedsy, Gids and Robbie O may have come and gone from out in the middle.
The taste of men's NRL premiership success may now be one quarter of a century in the rear-vision mirror.
The heartache of wooden spoons and ownership turmoil and juniors joining rivals may still be raw and relevant.
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But somehow, some way, the Knights are back playing finals footy deep in September and, incredibly, find themselves only 80 minutes away from a decider.
It's been a fairytale run. From last on the ladder to last four alive in the space of 12 months. Just the Panthers stand between them and a date with destiny.
It's a fair old mountain still to climb, the game's most dominant team of the modern era with a guy called Nathan Cleary. Penrith are listed as $1.29 favourites to take out Sunday's prelim at Accor Stadium.
But something has been building inside Newcastle's camp.
Win, lose or draw - this team have done a region proud and produced a campaign to remember.
It started the moment new coach Justin Holbrook walked through the door around November.
And, before competition proper had even begun for 2026, continued to gain momentum through a series of open community sessions, regional pathway partnerships, plus a mine visit.
There was also an all-in club training day. Old boys were back involved in various capacities. It was just a different kind of feeling.
Obviously so much has needed to transpire between an opening round half-a-world away in Las Vegas and booking a return to the NRL top eight, let alone more recently back-to-back elimination wins in the play-offs.
But it seems like one of the key ingredients behind it all has been a sense of belief.
The players talk about it, often. They say the coaching staff have helped create that environment.
Above all, however, those donning red and blue uniforms have made it a reality.
Many around the traps spruik a next-man-up mentality, but Newcastle are currently showcasing it for all to see.
No Dylan Brown, no Jacob Saifiti, no Trey Mooney, and, until recently, no Dylan Lucas. No worries.
Those filling the void, many young guns, have stepped up to the challenge. Tenfold.
In addition, a strong local flavour. Close to a handful of All Saints College graduates. Family and friends from all over the valley flocking to debuts.
And now, back to September 27. This upcoming encounter.
While played down in the state capital, it could easily be classed as a home fixture with Knights fans snapping up tickets by the truckload. Look out for the M1 motorcade.
More than 1000 supporters turned up to club headquarters midweek to see players go through their paces, flags are being flown proudly above local pubs, while one butcher is even creating coloured sausages.
It's been 13 long years since Newcastle were last back at this exact same point, just the sixth time in club history.
This current group seems determined to make the most of a rare opportunity.
Belief, undoubtedly, and among other things, could well prove crucial.
So could a famed "New-cas-tle" chant reverberating around Olympic Park - before, during and after.
Win, lose or draw - this team have done a region proud and produced a campaign to remember.
And while I may not be a kid anymore, now in a more professional kind of role, I'm certainly looking forward to my next Knights game. What about you?
