'Stadium will be rocking': Yeo urges Panthers fans to help silence Knights
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Penrith skipper Isaah Yeo has urged Panthers fans to turn out in force on Sunday afternoon amid fears his side's supporters will be swamped by the Knights army.
Excitement for Sunday's preliminary final is at fever pitch in the Hunter, with thousands of fans set to descend on Accor Stadium as Justin Holbrook's side looks to continue a fairytale charge to the grand final.
Yeo: We can't wait
Penrith fans have rallied in recent days after NRL data showed 65% of tickets had been purchased by Knights supporters earlier this week.
Postcode data suggests 60% of tickets sold in the past 48 hours have been bought by Panthers fans and Yeo is eager to keep the momentum rolling to ensure Accor Stadium is painted black on Sunday afternoon.
"I want a lot of Penrith supporters there," Yeo said.
"The stadium will be rocking, that's what you want in these games. Players want to play in big games and the atmosphere is a big part of that. We're looking forward to the challenge and the crowd."
Match: Panthers v Knights
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Panthers
1st Position
away Team
Knights
7th Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
The Knights have enjoyed a remarkable rise from the wooden spoon last year to the final four in 2026. Justin Holbrook's side is looking to emulate the 2010 Roosters by making the grand final just 12 months after finishing last on the ladder.
It's been 25 years since Newcastle played in a decider and 13 since their last preliminary final, with many in the current squad not even born when Andrew Johns led the Knights to glory in 2001.
Despite the on-field struggles throughout the past two decades, the region's rabid supporter base has continued to pack out McDonald Jones Stadium on a weekly basis.
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Given that consistent support, the players are not surprised by how many fans plan on making the trip to Sydney and forward Dylan Lucas said the squad is eager to send them home with a victory.
"Everyone's been mentioning how many Newcastle fans have bought tickets," Lucas said. "It doesn't surprise me, we see them pack out the joint all the time.
"To jump on the bus for two hours, I don't think that fazes them. There's a fair few buses heading down so that would be really cool as a fan. It brings our community together and they'll be having a lot of fun heading down there to watch us. Hopefully we can put on a good performance for them."
Having played in six-straight preliminary finals, and five consecutive grand finals from 2020-2024, the Panthers are used to playing in front of big crowds.
It's a different story for a Knights side packed with a host of young stars receiving their first taste of finals football.
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While the season opener at Allegiant Stadium helped lay the platform for this year's rise, last week's trip to Eden Park provided their first taste of a truly hostile finals atmosphere.
The Knights weren't daunted by the prospect of 48,000 screaming Wahs supporters and youngster Lachlan Crouch said they are excited to play in front of more than 55,000 fans on Sunday afternoon.
"If it beats the 48,000 at Eden Park last weekend, it will be the biggest crowd I've played in front of," Crouch said.
"There's going to be quite a buzz around the ground when we run out. It will be quite exciting and hopefully we can give them a lot to cheer about."
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