Within their four walls, the Newcastle Knights knew this NRL season was possible
The Newcastle Knights are experiencing a major resurgence, reaching their first NRL preliminary final in 13 years. The team's success is attributed to a strong club culture and the development of players like Phoenix Crossland.
Why it matters
Highlights the impact of long-term organizational vision and cultural identity on professional sports performance.
The Newcastle Knights are enjoying a remarkable turnaround, going from wooden spoon to their first NRL preliminary final in 13 years. ( Getty Images: Hannah Peters, National Archives of Australia )
Link copied Share Share article The blueprint of a Newcastle Knight was inked in black and white before anyone wore the red and blue.
Newcastle's inaugural coach Allan McMahon spelled out his vision in a 1987 newspaper column, ahead of the club's 1988 debut.
"Our guidelines for recruiting players are that the major part of their football be in front of them," McMahon decreed.
"[Players] will have an in-built desire to win as well as strength, tackling ability, and speed.
"There's a fantastic nursery for rugby league around Newcastle and that will be looked after.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in