Brendon Avery reckons there is still one more sleep until rugby league is really back - when his beloved Newcastle Knights finally return to the field.
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The 31-year-old has been following the Knights for as long as he can remember.
The club's famous 1997 grand final victory is his earliest footy memory and one he remembers "vividly".
Mr Avery is a paid-up season member with the Knights, but like thousands of other fans he has been starved of watching his team this Autumn after the NRL season - along with most other professional sports codes around the world - was suspended in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
"Tragic," he said of the season being postponed.
"I did go to the first [Knights] game at the start of the year which was excellent, but that's been it. It's been really tough. I haven't coped well with it at all, missing the football in general.
"All my little triggers of watching European sport on a Sunday morning, watching the [NRL] Super Saturday of a Saturday night and bunkering in or going to the pub and catching up with mates, or actually going to the footy, not having that outlet has been really tough."
A sense of normality returned for Mr Avery on Thursday night when the NRL season resumed, albeit under unusual circumstances. He could not have been happier to be watching on.
"I watch every game I can," he said. "I'd been saying to the wife, it's back in five days, back in four days, back in three days.
"She had been saying, 'five days, four days until I lose my husband'.
"This has been a once in a generation thing. The first couple of weeks were a novelty and then the reality and the grind set in.
"I thank Peter V'landys for ripping in and getting the May 28 restart. He has killed it, in my opinion."
Mr Avery's enthusiasm for the code's return is shared by his father Paul Avery and grandfather Ray Taylor.
"I'm sick of watching the '97 grand final over and over again," Paul, 56, said.
The duo have been following the Knights since the club's inception in 1988.
Asked who was the most passionate supporter, Paul nominated Ray while Ray said undoubtedly Brendon.
"It's difficult to say," Paul said. "My father-in-law [Ray] still wears his Henny Penny jersey, and it's quite thin.
"He's worn it through, but he has a range of [Knights] jumpers in his cupboard."
Ray, 80, said he was looking forward to seeing the Knights continue their strong start to the season, after a few average years in which most weeks "they didn't know it was an 80-minute game".
"I've seen a difference in them," he said of the 2020 side. "I hope they keep it up."
The three generations of Knights fans will most likely watch Sunday's match against the Panthers in their own homes, but will be riding the outcome together.
Brendon is tipping a big win and a successful season to come.
While stoked the NRL season has resumed, Mr Avery said he was still pining for a return to the stands.
"Not going to the games will be difficult," he said. "I love going to the games.
"I'm happy to have it back on, understanding that the protocols and stipulations have to try and make sure everyone is safe, but I'd absolutely love it if Gladys would say, 'yep, footy is on - ticketed members you're allowed to go back and sit a seat apart'."