Knight fever: Old Boys yearn for their own Vegas experience

There was a moment during the Knights’ final training run at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday (AEDT) when former captain Kurt Gidley wished he was out there with the current crop of players.

The previous night, Gidley struggled to hold back tears while hosting an event for Knights supporters who an hour earlier had been part of a 16,000-strong crowd at the NRL’s Fremont Street Fan Fest.

Fellow “Once-A-Knight" Old Boys Mark Hughes and Danny Buderus shared Gidley’s sentiments, making their feelings known in front of hundreds of the blue-and-red faithful at a fan function at Las Vegas’s Hard Rock Cafe just 24 hours before kick-off against North Queensland.

Gidley and Hughes have been in Las Vegas for the past week as club ambassadors, spending time with Knights officials and sponsors, and hosting fan events at various Las Vegas locations.

Buderus has been on duty as an assistant on new mentor Justin Holbrook’s coaching staff, helping the Knights prepare for their season-opener against the Cowboys.

“Myself and Mark, we play a role as ambassadors for the club throughout the year, hosting different things, so we’re very grateful to still be involved in footy in that way and to still be involved with the Newcastle Knights,” Gidley told NRL.com.

“To be here in Las Vegas, hosting events like these, it’s been an incredible experience all week.

“It’s hard to believe what we’ve seen so far. It’s been a real carnival atmosphere – a bit like Magic Round – but there’s been some real ‘pinch yourself’ moments.

“To see so many of our supporters here tonight, and last night at Fremont Street. We had a post-Fremont Street party for Knights supporters, and it was pumping. 

“We did a stadium tour today at Allegiant and it’s such a phenomenal venue, and these are the moments when I wish I was pulling the boots back on and playing.

“I got emotional doing an interview with ‘Hughesy’ last night, because I just couldn’t believe the support that we have over here.

"For all these passionate Knights fans to be over here to watch their team play in Las Vegas, it’s unbelievable.”

Hughes, one of only five Knights to have played in both of the club’s 1997 and 2001 grand final triumphs, was a firm fan favourite in the 161 games he played between 1997 and 2005.

“It’s a long way from Turton Road, New Lambton to Las Vegas, and at times it’s felt like we’re still in Newcastle, with the Newcastle chants we keep hearing,” Hughes said. 

“I’ve seen some familiar faces from back when I was playing, a lot of old supporters, meeting new ones, and they’ve all got that love and passion for the red-and-blue jersey, so it’s nice to see that.

“Everything is expensive over here, and they’ve no doubt saved hard to make the trip over here, but they’ve got smiles on their faces and they’re living their best lives over here, getting out and meeting people and enjoying the whole Las Vegas experience.

“I was fortunate enough to play in the 1997 and 2001 grand finals and saw those street parades back home, all that build-up, and Fan Fest gave me some flashbacks of those days. It’s been amazing.”

Affection for the popular Kurri Kurri junior has extended beyond the Hunter’s boundaries since his own diagnosis in 2013 inspired him to form the Mark Hughes Foundation to raise funds and awareness for brain cancer research.

“It’s been heart-warming,” Hughes said. “With our Beanies for Brain Cancer charity, every club has been so supportive, which is nice, and Knights fans have always been there for me and all the Newcastle players.

“Going to events and just chatting to fans has been one of our most important jobs over here, just to thank them for making such a huge effort to come over here and support us.

“The Newcastle players can definitely feel the support that’s over here for them, and they know they’ve got a responsibility to put their best foot forward.

“Talking to the coaches and the players at different times this week, I’m confident they’re going to put their best foot forward – not just in round one over here, but all season long.”

Buderus, the most capped player in Knights history with 257 NRL games to his name, said the players had been overwhelmed by the sight of so many supporters in Las Vegas.

“All week, you see them around the streets, in the resort, all the teams and their supporters, they’re all having these different experiences and enjoying what Vegas has to offer,” Buderus said.

“We set the week up really well, coming over here last Friday, getting to enjoy a bit of that Vegas life and experience into us all, then zeroing in on the game all week. It’s so unique, and so different to what anyone has been through before.

"Even for the teams that have been over here for the last two Vegas trips, I don’t think they’d have experienced what the teams experienced at Fremont Street last night because it just keeps building and building and building.

“What the players all experienced last night, it was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments. It was such a wonderful celebration of the game for all six teams – the four NRL teams plus Leeds and Hull KR.”

Having notched 83 English Super League games for Leeds from 2009 to 2011, the former Newcastle, NSW and Australian captain and hooker has been blown away by the support he has received from Rhinos fans on tour in Las Vegas.

“I’ve got some mates from all over the globe here – including a lot of mates from Leeds,” the NRL Hall of Famer said.

“And it’s been hard because I’ve got the coach’s hat on, so I don’t know how to interact with it all because it’s too difficult to catch up with everyone, but you put all that to one side because we’re all here for the game.

“You play sport for new experiences, whether that’s winning a grand final, winning a State of Origin series, winning in golden point, playing with your mates.

"That’s why you play the game, for new experiences like this, and these boys are going to have an amazing experience.

“This is one of the best stadiums they’ll ever get to play on – if not the best – so what an opportunity for them. Just walking around there today, you could see how dialled in the players were, knowing the stage they’re about to play on.”

Gidley, who also captained Newcastle and NSW, sits second behind Buderus on the Knights' all-time list of games played with 251 appearances for his home-town club from 2001 to 2015.

Though he and Hughes have enjoyed the social interactions with Knights fans, and the many attractions and distractions Las Vegas offers, Gidley felt certain the players were focused on the challenge of starting the season on the right foot against the Cowboys.

“I think the players are disciplined and professional enough not to get too caught up in the external stuff,” Gidley said.

“You’ve still got to enjoy it, but at the end of the day, when you get into your team meetings, going to training, pulling your boots on for game day, you’ve got a job to do, and that’s to win the game.

“That’s the purpose of being over here and I know the new coaching staff, club management, all the players, they’re all mindful of that. I’d just love to be out there with them.”