National Rugby League identities, Andrew and Matthew Johns, have urged the Newcastle Knights to sell to mining and racing magnate Nathan Tinkler.

The sports-loving millionaire recently purchased A-League club Newcastle Jets and has now put in an offer in a bid to take over the Knights.

Knights chairman Robbie Tew came out and said Tinkler's offer to pay their current $2.75million debt as well as drip in $10million over 10 years was not good enough.

But the Johns brothers, who are legends of the game in Newcastle, believe it would be well within the Knights' interest to team up with Tinkler.

"Anything that keeps us ahead of the game I am all for," Matthew Johns told the Daily Telegraph.

"I am not across the books, but this would be great for the club. Private ownership is the way ahead. It is going to happen so why delay the inevitable?

"It would ensure the club's future - I can't find anything bad about it.

"I think the club is nervous about how the fans will react, but the Hunter has always been rugby league mad - that won't change because Nathan Tinkler comes in."

And the NRL's greatest-ever half-back, was adamant the Knights should not let Tinkler's offer sit and gather dust.

"I would love him to be involved with the Knights," he said.

"Nathan loves the area and is passionate, not only about Newcastle but the whole Hunter region. He is also backing the Newcastle Jets.

"I don't know all the figures and I'm sure there are different models being discussed. That is for the hierarchy.

"But Nathan is a rugby league man and he has to be involved."