The Electric Pantera Tattoo Parlour in Newcastle is buzzing.
asserted
Parlour → buzz → Newcastle
It’s been a big few weeks for body art of a certain motif in a town gearing up for Sunday’s NRL grand final.
asserted
It → gear → final
On Thursday afternoon, when most Novocastrians are hard at work, three men are sprawled across tattoo beds getting Newcastle Knights ink.
asserted
men → sprawl → ink
One is already wearing a Knights jersey.
asserted
One → wear → jersey
Mick Sharp found time before his 12-hour night shift at a chemical plant to get the Knights logo that he’s wanted for years tattooed on his upper arm.
asserted
he → find → arm
He is such a Newcastle tragic that he named his first son Joey after Andrew “Joey” Johns.
asserted
he → name → Johns
“I was at the game on Sunday and have tickets for this Sunday, so thought why not get amongst it,” Sharp says.
asserted
Sharp → have → it
“We talk about the Knights pretty much every time I get my tattoos.
asserted
I → talk → tattoos
I can’t believe the way the town lifts from it.”
asserted
town → believe → it
The first thing you see upon entering the parlour is a red and blue book on the reception desk.
Our Town, Our Team: The Story of the Newcastle Knights.
Owner Dave Ross has been completing about “six to seven” Knights tattoos a day of late.
asserted
Ross → see → tattoos
There were dozens in September as the team went through finals, beating the Rabbitohs, Warriors and Panthers to qualify for a grand final few expected them to make.
asserted
them → be → final
Things got so busy Ross had to call in extra staff.
asserted
Ross → get → staff
The moment Newcastle edged out Penrith on Sunday in a stunning preliminary final upset, Ross heard his phone vibrating in his pocket.
asserted
phone → edge → pocket
Ross is wearing a corduroy hat emblazoned with an image of a shirtless Andrew Johns riding a skateboard down King Street – the famous scene after the Knights’ triumph over Manly 29 years ago.
asserted
Ross → wear → Manly
After Wednesday’s open training session at McDonald Jones Stadium, where 12,000 fans turned out to watch their heroes, Thursday was supposed to be a quieter day as everyone began mentally preparing for the game ahead.
asserted
everyone → turn → game
It didn’t turn out that way.
asserted
It → turn → ?
The young men in the tattoo parlour chat away to the artists.
asserted
men → chat → artists
At times, it feels more like a therapy session – black leather couch and all – as they recall their fondest memories of Knights games from years gone by.
asserted
they → feel → years
There have been some seriously lean years along the way, too, which makes this week all the more special.
asserted
week → make → way
“Newcastle feels like the centre of the universe at the moment,” Ross says.
asserted
Ross → feel → moment
“It’s truly like nothing we’ve ever experienced.
asserted
we → ’ → nothing
I never thought it would ever take off like this.
asserted
it → think → this
Last week was pretty bonkers, but since the win on Sunday it’s gone seriously bonkers.”
asserted
it → go → Sunday
As much as Ross would probably love the extra business, Sunday will remain sacred.
asserted
Sunday → love → business
“I need the morning and the day to mentally prepare for the Knights,” he says with a laugh.
asserted
he → need → laugh
“Everyone is the happiest I’ve seen.
asserted
I → see → ?
You can’t walk on the street without seeing a Knights shirt.
asserted
You → walk → shirt
It’s just the most incredible time.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
To understand the Knights-mania sweeping through Newcastle, consider this: 22,000 free tickets for a grand final watch party at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday sold out in three minutes.
asserted
tickets → understand → minutes
That’s 122 a second.
asserted
That → ’ → ?
On Saturday, fans will line the streets of Newcastle to farewell the players as they depart for Sydney.
asserted
they → line → Sydney
The team bus will leave the Knights Centre of Excellence at 9.30am, travelling through the city before heading towards the M1.
asserted
bus → leave → M1
After a quarter-century without a Knights grand final, Newcastle’s wait will finally end this weekend.
asserted
wait → end → final
And if they beat the Roosters in another upset?
asserted
they → beat → upset
“Newcastle’s going to blow up,” Ross says.
asserted
Ross → go → ?
“It’s going to be like nothing ever seen before.”
asserted
It → go → nothing
The Aporia
