It might have been the middle of a work and school day, but they weren't worried about their teachers or bosses.
They came decked out in Knights colours. They came to chant "New-ca-stle, New-ca-stle."
Even Jumping Jacks Community Preschool at New Lambton brought the children down to soak up the atmosphere.
As anyone who bleeds red and blue in Newcastle knows, getting behind the Knights in September is almost a civic responsibility.
More than 1000 Knights fans took up the invitation to attend the NRL club's open training session in Broadmeadow on Wednesday as they prepare for arguably their greatest ever challenge, beating the Nathan Cleary-led Penrith Panthers.
The minor premiers have built an unparalleled dominance in the NRL era of winning four of the past five grand finals, and bookmakers again have the Panthers red-hot favourites to beat the Knights and qualify for a sixth decider in seven seasons.
But the Knights' faithful are daring to believe.
"I'm no NRL coach, but I reckon if they keep playing the way they're playing [they could win]," Knights member and New Lambton resident Sam Gannon said.
"They've got to keep playing like Novcastrians and bring that grit and determination that they have had over the last couple of weeks."
Gannon and his wife Kelly both attended the 1997 grand final parade when they were in high school.
"We were in the seventh grade and weren't partying, obviously," Gannon said. "Hopefully we can get a '97 grand final party this time around."
The Gannons and their children Cooper, 6, Taj, 5, and Zara, 5 months, will make the trek to Accor Stadium at Homebush on Sunday and plan to participate in the fan march from the Brewery Bar & Kitchen at Olympic Park to the stadium.
Knights members and grandparents Peter and Fran Moller won't be at the game because of a grandson's birthday but will be loudly cheering at home in New Lambton.
Fran Moller credits first-year coach Justin Holbrook for the remarkable turnaround from last season's last-place finish.
"As they got into the eight, I thought, 'That's amazing,' after the wooden spoon last year," she said. "Every game, it's just built and built.
"You can see them all enjoying their game and playing footy for Newcastle. The fans love it as well."
Waratah's Kate Wiggers and her sister Emma have been attending Knights games since the club's inception in 1988, when they were children.
Wiggers remembered fondly the house painted red and blue, the Knights-coloured sausages and bread in the buildup to the 1997 and 2001 grand finals.
Asked how the atmosphere compares this week, she said, "Before there was absolute delirium because we'd never done it before.
"This is amazing given where we've come from in the last 10 years. There's an excitement, but it's calmer. I don't think the town's as crazy yet."
It's been 13 years since the Knights last reached the final four in the NRL. The club's leading try-scorer, Akuila Uate, was a member of Wayne Bennett's side that finished seventh before defeating Canterbury (22-6) and Melbourne (18-16) in a stunning play-off run.
The Knights lost the preliminary final 40-14 to the eventual premiers, the Sydney Roosters.
Uate was on the other side of the fence on Wednesday, proudly wearing a Knights Henny Penny jersey with his children Kingston, 11, and Cassandra, 4.
"That was a great time," Uate said of 2013. "I know how the boys are feeling right now, and hopefully they keep playing the way they're playing.
"[My memories are] just how pumped we were all weekend. Having Bedsy [Danny Buderus] as one of the senior players there just showed us how to play finals, because that was my first finals.
"It was a great feeling during the week, but you don't want to get too hyped up.
"I'm super proud of the boys, and so is all of Newcastle."
Thornton-based Knights fan Russell Stuart travelled to Las Vegas at the start of the season to watch Newcastle triumph 28-18 over the North Queensland Cowboys.
However, he never believed the Knights could potentially make the grand final.
"I booked a Bali trip when it's the grand final," Stuart said. "I wanted to get in but didn't think there was any hope."
Stuart, who is a social media food content creator, will actually do the coin toss before Sunday's game as part of a KFC promotion as the fast food chain sponsors the Panthers.
He joked he's "been practising" his coin toss during the week to ensure the Knights kick with the breeze in the first half.
And if the Knights win, those Bali plans will be cancelled.
"I don't even want to go to the game," he said. "I want to be in Newcastle. If I were in Bali, I would regret it for the rest of my life.
"It would be the biggest day of my life, even if I get married multiple times. Knights winning the grand final will always be No. 1."
