IT was not the way that Knights fans wanted to see their side return to the finals, but Newcastle's exit at the hands of a clinical South Sydney 46-20 in October last year had glimmers, particularly the fact that the side led its first finals appearance in a decade 18-0 during the early stages. But, like most of 2020, it didn't go to script.
The Knights gave long-suffering fans plenty to smile about in a season that halted, went behind closed doors and led the return of live sport. Bradman Best burst out of anonymity to become a go-to wrecking ball, Enari Tuala cemented himself in the top grade and David Klemmer toiled in the engine room despite snubs for representative honours.
There were also plenty of reasons to cry, too. The curse of the club's number nine jersey left Jayden Brailey, Andrew McCullough and Connor Watson unable to play on, two going down in the same torrid match against the Bulldogs. That war of attrition went Canterbury's way - on Friday night, Newcastle will have a shot at redemption in front of the McDonald Jones Stadium faithful.
Backrower Mitch Barnett proclaimed his innocence after he was accused of using a racial slur against Gold Coast's Tyrone Peachey, a matter the NRL Integrity Unit said it lacked evidence to make a firm judgment upon. Former captain Mitchell Pearce resigned that position after an off-season scandal involving his personal life, and on Monday Phoenix Crossland was hit with a one-match ban after an altercation at a pub.
That is all in the past. The club, bolstered by offseason recruits headlined by NSW State of Origin forward Tyson Frizell, will be hoping to put any discussion of those disruptions to bed with an emphatic performance on Friday.
Rules allowing more fans to attend matches came too late for the Knights last season as the pandemic loosened its grip on NSW. Fans, too, will be relieved to step back into the stands and deliver the famous three-syllable chant to lift red and blue spirits.
The familiar roar from Turton Road will be a welcome sign of normality asserting itself, even beyond the borders of the rugby league community. With JobKeeper's end likely to bring hardship for some, repeating the Knights' morale-boosting efforts in the aftermath of BHP's closure would be welcome.
Of course, all fans hope their side will have the final word. For the Knights that begins with Canterbury tonight. Where it ends will be up to Adam O'Brien's men.
