Newcastle star Willie Mason says the Knights' playing group has drawn a line in the sand and resolved to give their all regardless of the crisis gripping the embattled NRL club's front office.
The Knights went within three seconds of producing the upset of the season on Monday night against Manly, thwarted only by a miraculous field goal from Sea Eagles ace Daly Cherry-Evans.
There were plenty of excuses for Newcastle to throw in the towel at Brookvale Oval, with 20 key staff and players left unpaid and owner Nathan Tinkler's likely demise casting doubt over their individual futures.
But veteran front-rower Mason said there was a conscious decision made by the 17 players, who took the field against Manly, to show what they're made of, regardless of the circumstances engulfing the club.
"I can't control any of that and can't comment on any of that because I don't really know what's going on. As 17 players who take the field every time we represent the Knights, we just need to put in that effort and that's it," Mason told AAP.
"A real effort - we don't want to go out there and put in some pussy efforts like we have been.
"It was one of them games where we were going to draw a line in the sand in our season and see what we've got and rip in as hard as we can.
"That's what happened.
"If you're a Knights supporter or a Knights player, you come off the field pretty proud."
The Knights have endured a season from hell in every aspect so far and are anchored to joint-last position on the ladder.
But Mason says the season isn't over until they stop believing.
"I've played under every circumstance so I think this is another chapter really," he said.
"It's not one of those years yet. If you talk to me in round 20 and we're still in the same position, it'll be one of those years but we've still got a lot of football to play.
"I've been in too many teams where I've been in a lull like this. There's no special magic potion to take ... you've just got to work really hard."
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