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Newcastle fans are known for being arguably the most passionate in the NRL, and the lord mayor of the city is no exception.

With the Knights handed a 6pm home kick-off to start the season, Nuatali Nelmes took to the club's Twitter account to give a brief address, ordering employers to send their workers home early to ensure a packed Hunter Stadium.

Channelling the immortal words of Bob Hawke after Australia's 1983 America's Cup win, she declared that "Any boss in Newcastle that doesn't give their employee the afternoon off, is un-Australian and not a true Novocastrian - go Knights!"