Newcastle Knights fans gather from London and Lisbon for grand final
Knights fans living overseas in the UK and Portugal are preparing to watch the team's first grand final in 25 years.
Newcastle teacher Murray Bruce has lived in Hoddesdon, north of London, since marrying an English woman in 2016 and raising two English-born children there. Despite the distance and limited rugby league interest in Hoddesdon, Bruce plans to watch the Knights' grand final on Sky Sports.
The Knights' grand final this weekend marks the team's first grand final appearance in 25 years. Matt Rabbitt, a Newcastle fan, has committed even more: he paid $2,000 for flights from Lisbon to Sydney to attend the match in person.
Rabbitt grew up in Sydney but became a lifelong Knights fan through his father, who is originally from Wallsend. Both men cite the strength of the team's community and their childhood connections as reasons for their continued passion.
- 25 years
- Years since last grand final
- Henry 8, Adelaide 6
- Bruce's children ages
- 36 minutes north
- Train distance from London
- 2,000 dollars
- Rabbitt's flight cost
Why it mattersThe grand final shows how regional teams build loyal followers who carry their passion across continents and raise their children in it.
AustraliaNewcastle Knights will reach a global audience as overseas supporters tune in to Sky Sports for the first grand final in 25 years.
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