THE Newcastle Knights are on track to challenge their overall club record for average home crowds this season as players vow to repay long-suffering fans for their remarkable loyalty.
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After six games at McDonald Jones Stadium this year, the Knights are averaging 21,280 spectators per game.
Only twice in their history, in 1990 (22,018) and 2006 (21,848) have they finished seasons with better home-crowd attendance figures.
The 25,929-strong crowd for last week's 38-12 thrashing of Sydney Roosters - Newcastle's fifth straight victory - was their biggest turnout at Turton Road since the "Rise for Alex McKinnon" game (26,401) against Gold Coast in round 19, 2014.
With regular-season home games remaining against Brisbane, the Warriors, Canterbury, Wests Tigers, North Queensland and Gold Coast, the Knights would need to increase their average crowd to 22,216 - a rise of 4.4 per cent - to match their 1990 benchmark.
This season's crowds are already up 12 per cent on last year (18,974).
While some of their remaining opponents have traditionally not been major drawcards in Newcastle, the prospect of Old Boys' Day (against the Titans in round 24) and possibly a home final should ensure the turnstiles keep spinning.
The only clubs in the NRL to have enjoyed stronger game-day support this season are Brisbane (29,274 average crowd) and the Roosters (23,119), the latter thanks largely to the turnouts for Anzac Day and Magic Round respectively.
The sheer number of spectators to have attended games at McDonald Jones Stadium is testimony to the diehard passion of the Novocastrian faithful, who have waited since 2013 to cheer for a team in the play-offs and endured the ignominy of three successive wooden spoons between 2015 and 2017.
Rugged back-rower Mitchell Barnett said the parochial atmosphere had "definitely" played a role in last week's breakthrough win against the Roosters.
"They're the benchmark in the competition, so to get a win against them in front of a big crowd at home, there's no better feeling," Barnett said.
"Coming off four wins in a row, we were confident, and the crowd was unreal. We definitely heard them, cheering us, and booing the Roosters.
"They really lifted us when we needed it.
"It was easily the best crowd I've played in front of. I'm just so proud to be a Newcastle Knight."
Barnett said Newcastle's players felt a collective sense of obligation to repay their fans with on-field success.
"They turned up in numbers when we were struggling to win a game, so now we just want to pay them back," he said.
"We've definitely got the best fans in the comp.
"Those years we got the spoons, that hurt us, especially because we knew the fans kept turning up.
"But now we're getting a few results, we want to repay their loyalty.
"Eventually we want to win a comp for them."
Of Newcastle's remaining home games, four are on Saturdays (Brisbane, the Warriors, Cowboys and Titans) and two are on Friday nights (Canterbury and the Tigers).
Meanwhile, Barnett said he would be happy to deputise as goalkicker against South Sydney on Friday night if fullback Kalyn Ponga is rested after Origin I.
Barnett has landed three goals from three attempts this season, including a screamer from the sideline against the Roosters. "If my time comes, I just need to be ready step up," he said.
