Newcastle’s fans spoke with their feet after the club’s smallest home crowd in 22 years witnessed their 38-4 NRL demolition of Gold Coast.
Just days after coach Nathan Brown walked out on the club, the Knights ran in seven tries to one on Saturday to post one of their biggest wins of a tumultuous season.
It came a week after their 46-4 no-show against the Wests Tigers, which immediately prompted some supporters to turn on their club.
It also resulted in Brown, who had already decided to leave at season’s end, to depart on Tuesday, handing the reins to caretaker Kristian Woolf.
Remarkably, the victory keeps the Knights’ slim finals hopes alive, lifting them to within two points of eighth-placed Cronulla, who face Canberra on Sunday.
Much of the build-up continued to centre on the events that led to Brown’s demise, as well as the club’s handling of the dramas thereafter.
Players were also accused of giving up on their coach against the Tigers.
It all culminated in a meagre crowd of just 8274 at McDonald Jones Stadium – their lowest since 6177 turned up to a replayed game in 1997.
It was the fourth-lowest home crowd in Knights history.
The game also marked the traditional old boys’ day, which regularly attracted more than 20,000, however torrential rain in the lead-up would also have been a factor.
Skipper Mitchell Pearce said he couldn’t fault fans for being disillusioned with their club after the events of the past fortnight.
“I can’t blame them if it was. We’re the only ones to blame for that. The club’s not in the best place at the moment as far as the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“Obviously, there’s been some changes and a lot going on.
“But as a playing group, all we can do is come out and put in a performance like that and do ourselves proud, the team proud and earn back respect.”
Those who did show up were treated to a performance from a team seemingly unburdened by their off-field woes.
Stars David Klemmer, Kalyn Ponga and Mitchell Pearce were strong, although lesser names Mason Lino and Mitch Barnett were arguably best on ground.
For the last-placed Titans, showing little resolve in slumping to their 10th-straight defeat, the end of the season can’t come quickly enough.
“We probably played Newcastle back into a bit of form … Just found a way to make life tough for ourselves today,” caretaker coach Craig Hodges said.
The clouds only seemed to have darkened for the hosts when they conceded a soft first try to Titans halfback Ryley Jacks in just the fourth minute.
However, from the moment Klemmer threw a rare pass to put Pearce over untouched 10 minutes later, the clouds lifted.
Barnett crossed next before Hymel Hunt was on the end of a 90-metre movement in what was easily the highlight of the afternoon.
A Connor Watson try gave Newcastle a 20-point lead at halftime, prompting the hearty fans to give their team a standing ovation as they left the field.
The points continued to flow after the break, including a maiden try to highly touted youngster Bradman Best, set up by Ponga.
