Knights fever hits Newcastle: City painted red and blue for NRL grand final

Residents and businesses across Newcastle are showing their team spirit, as the city gets behind the Knights ahead of their first NRL grand final in 25 years.

The city is awash with homes and businesses painted in the Knights' iconic red and blue colours, as supporters count down the days to the big game on Sunday against the Sydney Roosters.

A small knight statue outside a painted house in New Lambton has become a local landmark.

Surprising his fiancee

Knights supporter and professional painter Lachlan Gray surprised his fiancee by painting their house red and blue while she was at work.

"I said to my mates a couple of weeks ago that if we made it to the grand final that I'd paint my house red and blue," he said.

"I actually own my house with my fiancee and it was a bit of a surprise when she got home yesterday."

"I did tell her that I was going to do it but I don't think she actually thought I was going to do it."

Painting the town red and blue

Newcastle has a history of painting its houses for the big occasion, with a striped red-and-blue house in Lambton becoming an emblem of the build-up to the 1997 grand final against Manly.

Nearby in New Lambton, Brad Malyon and his family have gone all out, building a homemade knight on a horse, complete with a chook on a stake.

"It's a hit! We're getting so many beeps from all the cars driving past," he said.

"There's so much support in the city at the moment for the boys [Knights players]. It's just such a great feeling in the town."

Businesses get on board

Local businesses are also showing their support, with shopfronts painted red and blue.

A clothing store on Darby Street has been transformed with the iconic red and blue stripes.

Local paint business owner Mitch Baird said he put a call-out on social media on Sunday night, offering to paint homes and businesses in the club's colours.

"There were so many people commenting, reaching out. We may have a few more places to do by the end of the week," he said.

Mr Baird's team spent several hours painting a shop on Tudor Street in Hamilton.

"We've had so many people popping past saying 'how cool', it's been awesome," he said.

Despite one of Mr Baird's painters being a long-time Roosters fan, they got the job done.

"I've stitched him up," he said.

"Even though he's a Roosters supporter he was still happy to do it. He knows how much it means to the town."