Newcastle paints the town red and blue ahead of Knights' grand final - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

A house in New Lambton, Newcastle, painted red and blue in support of the Knights. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)

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.

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.

Newcastle will face the Sydney Roosters in the decider on Sunday after beating the Penrith Panthers 22-14 in last week's preliminary final.

Knights fever has gripped the city as supporters count down the days.

A small knight statue out the front of a painted house in New Lambton.  (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)

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.

Lachlan Gray painted his home in Waratah, Newcastle.  (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)

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.

ABC Newcastle radio hosted a live broadcast at the "red and blue" house in Lambton in 1997. (ABC News)

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.

Brad Malyon and his family made their own knight on a horse display.  (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)

"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 painted red and blue.

A clothing store on Darby Street painted in the iconic red and blue stripes.  (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)

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.

Mitch Baird painting a business on Tudor Street, Newcastle. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)

Despite one of Mr Baird's painters being a long-time Roosters fan, they got the job done.

"Even though he's a Roosters supporter he was still happy to do it.

"He knows how much it means to the town."

Mitch Baird's team spent hours painting a business in Newcastle today. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson)