Timana Tahu belongs to an exclusive club of players who have won both an NRL premiership and a Koori Knockout title.
He knows what that rare double feels like, and the type of excitement it can create within fanbases and communities.
That is why he knows the coming four days in Newcastle are going to deliver a sporting convergence unlike anything the Hunter region has ever seen.
From Friday, more than 10,000 people a day will flood Raymond Terrace's King Park precinct for the 54th edition of the Koori Knockout. At the exact same time, the city will celebrate and nervously watch as Tahu's former team, the Newcastle Knights, play in their first NRL grand final in 25 years on Sunday night.
As a Knights great from the iconic 2001 premiership side and a broadcaster for NITV at the Knockout, it couldn't be a better moment for Tahu.
"A lot of people that are coming from all over New South Wales and some players from Queensland, they're going to experience what it is to be a real football fan, I think," Tahu said.
"Newcastle is a one-team town, it's a community team, they love their team, and people are going to experience something that they've never experienced before. The town is abuzz at the moment."
Seeing the flood of support and the entire city getting behind the Knights again in the lead-up to Sunday's decider against the Roosters has brought back vivid memories of 2001.
"That grand final week was something special," Tahu said.
"The town was painted red and blue. We had red and blue houses, red and blue cars, red and blue beer, red and blue bread. Everyone was getting in on the buzz of grand final weekend.
"I'm just hearing stories up there at the moment that everyone is buzzing and at training there's big groups there and it's just the support of the town. Newcastle, the town, feels like it is their team. When we walk out in the street, we're part of the community and everyone knows each other."
That connection between rugby league and the community has been on full display during the Knights' dream run. Twelve months on from collecting the wooden spoon, Newcastle has surged from seventh and knocked off the Rabbitohs, Warriors, and Panthers to reach the decider under coach Justin Holbrook.
"Newcastle hit the spot here. We have Justin Holbrook, and being a past player I think everything just aligned," Tahu said.
"I can see the confidence in the players and how they play. They look happy. They're more involved in the community now with Justin there.
"They went through the rough path and the wooden spoon last year, so to see them at the grand final stage is a good story of the club being cleaned up, having the right people there, and now we can see the results."
That deep bond is what makes wearing the red and blue jersey mean so much.
"You can get lost in Sydney, being one of the Sydney teams, and this could just feel normal, but the way that Newcastle has prepared, you're about to make history," Tahu said.
"This is bigger than just a game, and I think that support you're going to see on grand final day is going to be massive."
While the city gears up for Sunday night's decider, Raymond Terrace will host one of the country's great sporting traditions.
The Hunter region earned hosting rights for the 2026 Koori Knockout after the Newcastle Yowies won last year's title in thrilling fashion at Tamworth, courtesy of a field goal inside the final two minutes from Kyle Laybutt to seal victory over the Bourke Warriors.
The 2025 event was a total takeover for the Yowies, who also claimed the women's title and the girls' under-15s and under-17s grand finals.
"The Yowies, it's a family team and ... Newcastle itself is a rugby league town," Tahu said.
Tahu is hopeful people converging on the region for grand final weekend will also head to Raymond Terrace to experience the Knockout. While the Yowies and the Newcastle All Blacks will fly the flag for the host region, Tahu expects a wide-open tournament.
"We're in a new season and it's a new generation of players," Tahu said.
"I think the reason why it's so competitive is because the junior development everywhere has up-skilled. They all know about nutrition, and their health, and they're going to the gym, and they're more educated with their footy now.
"I think the reason it's healthy is because it's the grassroots and how they've been developing our younger generation."
For Tahu, the convergence of NRL grand final fever and raw, unpredictable Knockout footy makes Newcastle the only place to be this weekend.
"It's a fun time to be in Newcastle at the moment," he said.
"Everyone's happy, everyone is looking forward to the Knockout and if you come out, you might see some different football than what you're used to seeing.
"Club football can feel a little same old, and groundhog day with the structure, and playing to the percentages and holding the ball, but because the games are short here, there's a lot of high risk in it. You can see some entertaining football."
The Koori Knockout will be shown live on NITV on Sunday and Monday from 9am.
