![\"Hughes\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/mark-hughes-e1655205492993.jpg\")
Mark Hughes. Photo: Peter Stoop<\/p>\n\u201cOnce a Knight, always a Knight\u201d is the motto of the Newcastle squad\u2019s former members, celebrating another season of one of the most beloved teams in the NRL.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Old Boys say the club\u2019s spirit, foundation and unmatched support network continue to set them apart in the competition, decades after their maiden kick-off in 1988.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Born out of a city fighting for its place in the NRL, the Knights quickly became a symbol of Newcastle\u2019s working-class identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Crowds of thousands packed into the then Marathon Stadium in the organisation\u2019s formative years, establishing one of rugby league\u2019s most passionate fan bases.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mark Hughes. Photo: Peter Stoop<\/p>\n
For former centre Mark Hughes, who played 161 games between 1997 and 2005, those moments still bring him joy to this day.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom our history in 1988, our foundations were set by the founding teams and coaches,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey led the way for a lot of success in the 90s and, of course, in 2001.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI love coming and mixing with the older players, telling stories and hearing about their journeys.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hughes said he remembers the roar of the iconic Newcastle chant and the weight of expectation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever that got going, it would bring shivers down your spine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe supporters gave us so many amazing memories.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a sense of pressure to perform because they\u2019d turn up rain, hail or shine\u2026 we owed them everything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That same passion famously boiled over during the 1997 NRL grand final, when Darren Albert crossed in the final seconds to seal Newcastle\u2019s first premiership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSeventy-nine minutes we were hanging in there, struggling through, and then in the last minute we found a way to win,\u201d said Hughes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The Newcastle Knights\u2019 premiership-winning 1995 reserve grade squad. Picture: Newcastle Knights<\/p>\n
Stephen \u201cCrowey\u201d Crowe, who debuted in 1991 and was still around for the 1997 triumph, said the celebrations defined the town.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe region went bonkers,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t pay for a taxi or a beer for a month or two after.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was incredible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Crowe said the famous \u201cNew-Cast-Le\u201d chant began that day in Sydney and had stuck with the club ever since.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the 1997 title remains one of the squad\u2019s greatest moments, the 2001 premiership, led by the Johns brothers and a host of local juniors, cemented the Knights\u2019 reputation as a powerhouse.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Steve Simpson. (AAP Image\/Action Photographics\/ Jonathan Ng)<\/p>\n
Steve \u201cSimmo\u201d Simpson, who pulled on the red and blue jumper 216 times between 1999 and 2010, said the bond with his squad was a defining factor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s such an important part of a successful footy team, how tight you are with your teammates,\u201d he told the Newcastle Weekly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did everything together, even away from footy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat really held you together in moments of pressure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For Simpson, the fans were just as crucial.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re doing it tough on the footy field, the supporters really go above and beyond,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, they\u2019re like another player.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve gotten me through some tough periods.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/img-4794.jpg\")
Once a Knight Old Boys Kurt Gidley, Mark Hughes and Ashley Gordon. Image supplied<\/p>\n
Kurt \u201cGids\u201d Gidley, who played 251 games and captained the club through the 2000s, grew up as a fan before making his debut in 2001.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to sit on the southern hill with my mum, dad and brothers, watching the faces of the players,\u201d he recalled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re the backbone of the Knights and the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we\u2019re a one-team town, we\u2019re working class, we\u2019re blue collar, and our community expects that of us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve always been loyal through good times and bad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Across generations, the Old Boys agree the Knights\u2019 identity is built on more than just wins.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hughes noted it\u2019s about loyalty, resilience and a love for Newcastle.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re representing far more than a team,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re representing a region, a community.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople\u2019s lives revolve around seeing their team play on the weekend, it\u2019s a special jersey to wear.\u201d<\/p>\n