Kalyn Ponga was overcome after Newcastle defeated the Warriors, telling viewers, "I feel like crying," as he struggled to hold back tears.
The moment echoed emotions felt by Knights players since the build-up to the 1997 grand final, despite the current squad being far removed from that team.
Before September 20 this year, Ponga and Marc Glanville shared little beyond playing for Newcastle.
Glanville was a tough New South Wales forward whose representative career did not extend beyond City Origin.
Ponga, by contrast, is a Queensland star with a long list of achievements.
Yet the two Knights have experienced a similar emotional response while representing the club.