INAUGURAL Knights skipper Sam Stewart says history shows the Novocastrian faithful rally behind their team in times of crisis.
Stewart, now a successful property developer on the Gold Coast, returned to EnergyAustralia Stadium yesterday to attend a lunch for Knights life members.
As he gazed out over the turf he graced between 1988 and 1992, the 49-year-old reflected on the controversial departures of Danny Wicks and Chris Houston, both of whom are facing police charges for allegedly supplying cocaine and ecstasy.
Stewart said losing two proven performers like Wicks and Houston would hurt any team, but he was confident the scandal would produce an emotional and positive response from Knights fans.
"I think if you look back to my time, the [1989] earthquake was one of the single most devastating things ever to happen to Newcastle, but the earthquake brought the team and the town together," Stewart said.
"The closing of BHP [in 1997] was another example. 'In this case, there are a couple of players who may have gone a little bit wrong, so it's not a massive thing.
"The town has endured a lot bigger things than this, and so has the team.
"It's today's news, but it will be tomorrow's fish-and-chip paper.
"I know that the club will get over it and the fans will too. I'm sure they'll support the team because there is a great culture in Newcastle.
"The rugby league culture here goes back many, many years - way before my time - and I'm confident it will shine through."
The former Kiwi Test forward, who played in 81 games for the Knights - more than half of them as skipper - believed his modern-day counterparts were capable of rising above the turmoil and defying the expectations of bookmakers, who have installed them as wooden spoon favourites.
"I thought last year they showed some really good signs," he said.
"I've known Rick Stone for a long time from when he was at Burleigh, and he's a good man to have in charge in a situation like this.
"I was talking to a couple of current players at lunch, and Steve Simpson was saying they had all adjusted to Stoney's style of coaching and appreciated his man-management.
"I think [former coach] Brian Smith and the players took time to jell, but Rick Stone is a people person and a genuine guy from a players' point of view.
"I'm sure Rick will get the best out of them, and a lot of people might have under-budgeted in regard to how Newcastle will perform."
Stewart said realistically Newcastle might take time to hit their straps, especially as captain Kurt Gidley faces several weeks on the sidelines with a knee/hamstring injury.
"Hopefully from a playing point of view, they can still put a performance on, but having two quality players out of the line-up, it makes things tougher," he said.
Meanwhile, Stone was hopeful yesterday that first-choice hooker Isaac De Gois would be available for Newcastle's round-two clash with Melbourne.
De Gois will sit out the season-opener against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night, having undergone a knee reconstruction at the end of last season.
"Isaac probably needs a couple of tough sessions over the next week to find that last 10 to 15 per cent in his power and agility and sharpness off the mark," Stone said.
"We haven't put a time frame on it, but hopefully he'll be a chance for next week.
"Merv Cross, the surgeon who did the operation, is really confident that the graft has healed and there is no chance he will re-injure it."
Stone said bench forward Richie Fa'aoso had recovered from torn knee ligaments and he was a definite starter against the Bulldogs.
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