The Western Suburbs Magpies went from last in 1933 to premiers in 1934, a turnaround no other first-grade side has matched in more than a century.
Newcastle could make history of its own next Sunday, having reached the 2026 NRL grand final just one year after finishing last.
The Knights' opponents, the Sydney Roosters, are the only other NRL-era side to reach the decider a year after claiming the wooden spoon.
The Roosters made the 2010 grand final after finishing bottom in 2009, but lost 32-8 to Wayne Bennett's St George Illawarra.
Justin Holbrook's Knights now have a chance to go further after beating Penrith 22-14 in the preliminary final despite being reduced to 12 players.
No NRL-era champion has finished lower than fourth, and fourth-placed teams have won three titles since 1998, including Brisbane last year.
Across the NSWRL era, only the 1993 Broncos, who finished fifth, and the 1995 Bulldogs, who finished sixth, have won from lower positions.
The Bulldogs beat minor premiers Manly 17-4 in the 1995 decider at the old Sydney Football Stadium.
Newcastle finished seventh this season, meaning a victory would set a new record for the lowest-placed champion.
The Knights have not won a title since Andrew Johns' side beat Parramatta in 2001; the Eels, Raiders and Warriors have endured longer waits.
Holbrook won a Super League title with St Helens in 2019, but an NRL premiership as head coach would be his first.
He would achieve it against the Roosters, where he worked for two years as Trent Robinson's assistant before leaving last off-season.