Newcastle paints the town red and blue ahead of Knights' grand final

Homes and businesses across Newcastle have been painted red and blue as the city rallies behind the Knights ahead of the NRL grand final. Supporter and professional painter Lachlan Gray surprised his fiancee by painting their house while she was at work. What's next? The Knights will face the Sydney Roosters at Sydney Olympic Park in the NRL grand final on Sunday. Homes and businesses across Newcastle have been painted red and blue as the city rallies behind the Knights ahead of their first NRL grand final in 25 years. Knights fever has gripped the city as supporters count down the days. Knights supporter and professional painter Lachlan Gray surprised his fiancee by painting their house red and blue while she was at work. "I said to my mates a couple of weeks ago that if we made it to the grand final that I'd paint my house red and blue," he said. "I actually own my house with my fiancee and it was a bit of a surprise when she got home yesterday. "I did tell her that I was going to do it but I don't think she actually thought I was going to do it." Paint the town red and blue Newcastle has painted its houses for the big occasion before, with a striped red-and-blue house in Lambton becoming an emblem of the build-up to the 1997 grand final against Manly. ABC Newcastle radio hosted a live broadcast at the iconic home on the eve of the Newcastle Knights' 1997 win. Nearby in New Lambton, Brad Malyon and his family have gone all out, building a homemade knight on a horse, complete with a chook on a stake. "It's a hit! We're getting so many beeps from all the cars driving past," he said. "There's so much support in the city at the moment for the boys [Knights players]. "It's just such a great feeling in the town." Businesses are also jumping on board, with shopfronts also painted red and blue. Local paint business owner Mitch Baird said he put a call-out on social media on Sunday night, offering to paint homes and businesses in the club's colours. "There were so many people commenting, reaching out; we may have a few more places to do by the end of the week," he said. Mr Baird's team spent several hours today painting the shop on Tudor Street in Hamilton. "We've had so many people popping past saying 'how cool', it's been awesome," he said. Despite one of Mr Baird's painters being a long-time Roosters fan, they got the job done. "I've stitched him up," he said. "Even though he's a Roosters supporter he was still happy to do it.