'Courage': Almost four decades on and emotions still strong for founding father

Michael Hill can't help but get emotional.

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The cars flooding down the freeway. The team back on the big stage. Even the regular weekend comings and goings of supporters attending games in Newcastle.

The last season, the last month, the last week - it's been something else for the Knights and the region they represent. Not lost on one of the club's founding fathers.

Michael Hill and Leigh Maughan, founding fathers of the Knights (main); Newcastle players, fans amid GF fever. Pictures by David Wicks, Jonathan Carroll, Marina Neil

"I go through a range of emotions, just thinking back," Hill told the Newcastle Herald on Monday in the wake of Newcastle's first NRL grand final appearance in 25 years.

"Every time I see cars travelling down the highway or coming back from the game. Even people walking in and out of the ground on a weekend watching their football team.

"It's a very emotional thing and it recurs regularly. Being involved with so many people when it was all evolving and in the early years so many people giving their time as volunteers."

Hill, alongside Leigh Maughan and Gerry Edser, were among the key figures when the Knights first formed in 1988.

The former chairman, who also played cricket for NSW, attended Sunday night's decider at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.

Newcastle went down 19-18 to the Roosters, a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal ultimately proving the difference, but they were brave in defeat and won over plenty of fans with what Hill describes as pure "courage".

A statistic floating around on Monday suggested the 445 tackles made by the Knights on October 4, was the most ever in an NRL title showdown. Possession and territory were also heavily in favour of the Roosters. Numbers for completion rates and kick return metres were anything but even.

Yet, somehow and someway, the Knights remained in the contest until the very end. Typifying a recent finals run from seventh on the ladder to last two standing.

Newcastle's team arm in arm before Sunday's decider at Homebush. Picture by Marina Neil

"It was all really encapsulated during the last month," Hill said.

"All the experts wrote them off and each week they proved the same set of experts wrong.

"And last night they won so many fans just by their courage. The football probably wasn't anything that special and the Roosters dominated, but the on-line defence I haven't seen any better in my time watching. The Knights just kept knocking them over."

In terms of that rare sporting fairytale, wooden spoon to premiers in the space of 12 months, not quite eventuating for the men in red and blue.

"I think from a fans point of view, getting there was the successful fairytale. As long as they didn't get flogged on the night, I think their achievements will stand," Hill said.

Former Knights chairman Michael Hill. Picture by Glen McCurtayne

Homegrown talent, lining up with mates and a renewed desire to represent Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium was a "powerful thing from a club point of view."

"I think the most significant part of the season is that the pathway system has started producing local players in the football team," Hill said.

"You're always going to need people from outside the area, that's just the way it is, but now you have a steady flow that just want to play for the Knights."

Hill also acknowledged 2026 as a marker for owners Wests, who have now been in charge of the Knights for the best part of a decade.

"In reality this is the first time since Wests took over that they've shown the region that they are still the region's club," he said.

"They've won back all of those supporters just with their efforts."

Knights supports at Accor Stadium on Sunday night. Picture by Jonathan Carroll

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