Newcastle Knights Fans Travel to Sydney for NRL Grand Final After Tragic Week
On October 4, 2026, Newcastle Knights fans packed trains from Broadmeadow Station toward Sydney’s Accor Stadium for the club’s first grand final appearance in 25 years, following a tragedy in Newcastle where a car crashed into a crowd, leaving a five-year-old girl in a critical but stable condition, smh.com.au reported.
How did Newcastle fans prepare for the grand final day?
Grand final day for Newcastle supporters began 156km away from Sydney at the Del Hotel and Pub on Darby Street. Doors opened at 10am, drawing fans like Bailey Goodacre inside for food and drinks before making the trip south. Bailey Goodacre stated, We’ll steady ourselves and have some food and drinks. Eventually, we’ll have more people come. It’s going to be unreal. I can’t wait.
Goodacre also remarked, We defended the table, and now we’re going to defend the kingdom.
Anissa stated, All his friends have been sending messages saying he’ll be here with us. They’re so happy we got tickets,
adding, He was the number one Knights fan, and even his coffin, he had a Knights coffin.
Ashlee, who attends every home game, wore her Knights jerseys to work every day that week, much to the chagrin of her boss, a Roosters supporter, smh.com.au reported.
What happened to the community prior to the match?
The city woke to promising news after the tragedy of Saturday, when a car struck a crowd of supporters and children during the fan parade. Several supporters, including children, were hospitalized. A five-year-old girl struck by the car underwent emergency surgery the night before and was now in a critical but stable condition. Goodacre told smh.com.au, We feel really bad for what has happened. It is sad,
adding that he thought the town, already bonded by their team’s success, had become even closer after the incident. Ashlee Storey described the incident as Just upsetting and devastating,
stating to smh.com.au, I feel so sorry for all the families that were all involved in it. It’s just terrible. It’s been such a great atmosphere in Newcastle and for one guy to ruin it all for everyone is just really upsetting.
Who else filled the stands at Accor Stadium?
Supporters of other teams traveled to western Sydney for the NRLW grand final and the State Championship alongside the main fixture, including fans dressed in costumes such as David Thompson, who dressed as a knight and noted, It’s not knitted by Nan; I got it on eBay.
Ten-year-old Lachlan Harch wore Brisbane Broncos gear for his birthday—including a Broncos jersey, shorts, socks and a necklace he received for his birthday on Thursday—though his side fell 30-6 to the Roosters in the women’s decider, smh.com.au reported. Roosters fan Harry Zouroudis wore a club costume despite supporting a minority crowd at the venue, stating, It doesn’t matter.
It’s the result that matters in the end.
Fans plan travel from Accor Stadium in Sydney
The match takes place at Accor Stadium in Sydney, with kickoff following preliminary events, and returning fans planning travel immediately after the final whistle.
