A lot more than two points will be on the line against the Wests Tigers this weekend.
The nib Newcastle Knights and Tigers will pay tribute to the life and career of Allan McMahon by contesting for the Allan McMahon Shield in their Round 3 clash at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
McMahon had a strong affiliation with both clubs having played 110 first grade game at the Balmain Tigers between 1975 and 1981 and represented Australia in five tests.
He became the inaugural coach of the Newcastle Knights in 1988.
At the tender age of 31, McMahon created a culture based on toughness and resilience which is engrained in the Club's DNA today.
A few Knights old boys spoke about the influence McMahon had on the club in the early days.
"What he put into our club, it set it up and you've got to be forever thankful to the pioneers of our club and Allan McMahon is one of those," General Manager of Football Danny Buderus said.
"To have it named after such a great man in Allan McMahon, I think it's something the players are very proud to be involved in. When the (shield) is awarded at the end of the game, you know you've played for something," Billy Peden said.
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"If there is one person responsible for the success of the Newcastle Knights, it's Allan McMahon," Stephen Crowe said.
Allan McMahon paved the way for the Knights in their introduction to the league in 88' and laid the foundations that would bear fruits in years to come.
He coined the phrase 'be the player everyone wants to play with', which has become synonymous with the red and blue and a motto players strive towards.
Sadly, McMahon passed away in 2003 at the age of 48 and the Knights and Tigers will remember an inspiring figure of both clubs and continue his legacy.
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"The Allan McMahon Shield is a really important part of The Newcastle Knights annual celebrations," Head Coach Adam O'Brien said.
"Allan, or Macca as he was known, was our first coach, who pioneered the path for the Knights players who wear the jersey today.
"If we are going to drink from the well, we must remember the ones who dug it in the first place, Macca was one of these people.
"We currently hold all the (interclub) trophies, Allan McMahon Shield, Mal Reilly Trophy and Alex McKinnon Cup. We are extremely proud of this and we aim to retain them all again, starting this weekend."
The Knights currently hold the Allan McMahon Shield having defeated the Tigers in Round 2 last season.
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The Shield has been contested since 2003 in the first game of the year between the two clubs.
Since the inception of the Wests Tigers in 2000, the two clubs have met on 30 occasions with the record split down the middle.
Both clubs have 15 wins each and Sunday's game will decide who will attain a lead in the record stakes and lift the shield.
