Knights' grand final run inspires Burgess to go one better with Jets this season

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Newcastle Jets skipper Max Burgess says the Knights' run to the NRL grand final has fuelled his fire to go one better in the A-League this season.

Burgess, in his first full campaign with the Jets last season, got to experience what it was like to bring an Australia Cup and Premiers' Plate back to Newcastle.

But after seeing how the Hunter responded to the Knights making this month's NRL grand final, Burgess is inspired to achieve the same milestone in his code.

"We had just finished training in Maitland, and I was scurrying down the highway to get there," Burgess said.

Burgess at training this week. Inset, with the Knights fan he dropped at the NRL finals match in Sydney last month.

"I had just picked my mate up from Morisset train station. Obviously the trains weren't working that day, and we saw a dejected Knights fan walking around the street and just asked him if he wanted to jump in the back of the [car].

"Ended up spending about three and a half hours with him because there was bumper-to-bumper traffic.

"But that week after the prelim, into the grand final with the Knights, it was amazing to witness a community come together, the positivity, the excitement, and it was just special to be a part of, living here.

"So definitely as a footballer, playing for the Jets, we felt a lot of that last year in the community, but it makes you hungry to deliver more success and make a grand final for us as well."

Max Burgess, left, and Knights fan Ross Kilpatrick, second from left, in Sydney on route to the NRL match. Picture Instagram

Boogaard, the club's longest-serving captain, was not surprised to hear Burgess had driven 71-year-old Knights fan Ross Kilpatrick to the NRL finals match last month.

"For him to do something like that, that's not a surprise to anyone who knows him well, internally," Boogaard said.

"He is now probably an adopted Novocastrian. I'd say he probably has a few more years until he can call himself that, but I think he epitomises what we're trying to achieve at the club, and that Newcastle spirit.

"He is leading this group with a couple of other senior boys in a way that this club really wants to be seen, both internally and externally."

Burgess is now Newcastle's permanent captain. Picture by Marina Neil

"The same as what he produced last year, for him, it's much about leading with his actions on the park," the former defender said. "Since he has come to the club, being one of the more senior ones with such a young playing group, he has definitely taken on that leadership role and I think he is really enjoying it. It was probably something that wasn't asked of him previously, but I think he is very much a natural at it."

Burgess at training in July. Picture by Marina Neil

But after a 7-1 loss to defending J-League champions Kashima Antlers in Japan last month, Burgess was pleased with how the side responded against Gamba Osaka in Newcastle on Tuesday night, despite being overcome 3-1 by the former tournament champions.

He described the performance as "a big positive step" towards how they intend to play.

"Obviously we want to be a team that's winning games of football, so the feeling in the change rooms is disappointment, but in terms of our philosophy, and our improvement and growth as a squad, and individually, there's a lot of good things to be taken," he said, speaking after the game.

Burgess attempts to make a tackle in Tuesday night's AFC game. Picture Getty Images

"We were a whisker away last year and it still hurts, but that's the ultimate goal," he said.

"The good thing about this group is we're always striving to be better, and I know that the desire is there and that's our main ambition. But we have to take it day by day."

Burgess also cleared up which team he was supporting in the NRL grand final when the Knights took on the Sydney Roosters, who represent the same area of Burgess' junior soccer team Easts FC, a club based in Queens Park near Bondi Junction.

"Never a Rooster but I'm a Knights fan now," Burgess said. "I was a Bunnies fan, but since I've moved up here, I think I'm definitely Knights - Steel City."

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