Newcastle’s shouts of joy turn to tears and horror as city deals with crash aftermath

The excitement was building, and everyone seemed swept up in NRL grand final fever.

For kilometre after kilometre, Knights fans were everywhere.

Families stood on nature strips. Kids wore red, white and blue jerseys and waved hand-made signs. Car horns blared. Chairs were lined up along the road, waiting for a glimpse of the Knights’ coach as it made its way to Sydney with the players and the hopes of an entire city on board.

After a breakfast rich with Knights legends from the 1997 and 2001 premiership-winning teams, the 2026 grand final team boarded the bus, bound for Sydney for tomorrow night’s clash with the Roosters. At 9.27am, the chant of “Newcastle” rang out as the coach pulled away from the curb.

The throng of supporters lining the road out of town raised their flags as they awaited a glimpse of their heroes.

Many never saw them. At about 9.30am, an out-of-control BMW slammed into spectators on Newcastle Link Road. Footage posted on social media shows the car speeding around a bend and crossing lane markings before the video cuts out.

People can be heard screaming in the background.

The car hit 10 people, including three young girls – two aged five, one aged two. One of the five-year-olds and a 67-year-old man are in a critical condition.

Slowly, excitement gave way to confusion. Whispers spread along the road that something horrific had happened.

Knights players were told their bus would have to be diverted as police cars and ambulances screamed through Newcastle. One Knights official aboard the bus was close to tears when contacted by this masthead.

Parents began explaining to their children that the Knights weren’t coming past after all. Some kids burst into tears. Others found it hard to understand why.

With thousands of people trying to check their phones, reception became difficult and information was scarce.

Every police car that appeared initially brought excitement with fans assuming it was part of the Knights’ escort. Instead, the cars kept racing past them towards a far grimmer scene.

Newcastle’s joy turned to shock.

Knights fan Jed Partridge, 29, was among the many struggling to comprehend the accident, standing in disbelief at a cricket field watching helicopters transport injured victims to hospital.

He had arrived at 8.20am to join thousands of others in waving off the team bus.

“We were on the side of the road, just waiting. Everyone was happy and then there was a real flurry of cop cars, ambos and rescue cars shooting past,” he said.

“[That] such a positive thing could quickly turn to this, it’s hard to wrap your head around, especially as apparently a little girl has been involved.

“It was eerie … [that] such a positive thing could quickly turn to this. It’s hard to wrap your head around.”

One police officer was overheard saying she had never seen anything like it in Newcastle.

By the time the Knights reached Sydney, statements had been issued by NSW Premier Chris Minns and ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys.

Hours earlier, coach Justin Holbrook had been asked how his players would remain focused amid the extraordinary attention and adulation that had engulfed them all week. He was confident they would be fine.

That question suddenly felt very different.

The Knights had left home as grand final underdogs carrying the hopes of a rugby league-mad city. They arrived in Sydney carrying something far heavier.

From what must be a shell-shocked team in Sydney, Knights’ captain Kalyn Ponga sent his love. “We’re thinking of you, your families and everyone in our Newcastle community,” he wrote. “Sending our love and support x.”

Newcastle is a city reeling.