The Newcastle Knights have posted back-to-back wins for the first time in 2024 following a hard-fought 14-8 victory over the New Zealand Warriors in rain-soaked conditions.
Posting their sixth win from ten meetings against the Warriors during Adam O'Brien's tenure at the club, the Knights rose to the challenge defensively and were carried home by a vocal group of 16,094 supporters who braved the wet.
The Knights reaped the rewards of a high completion rate early on in proceedings with Tyson Gamble (10th minute) swooping on an error from Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to open the scoring.
Going close to extending their lead through Dylan Lucas in the following set - only for the bunker to rule an obstruction against Dane Gagai - the Warriors poor discipline allowed the home side to go beyond a converted try with Gagai slotting a close-range penalty goal.
In an opening quarter riddled by poor ball control and discipline, Dylan Walker (27th minute) narrowed the deficit by running onto a short pass from Tohu Harris and crashing over for his first try of the season.
A desperate defensive effort from Nicoll-Klokstad denied Gagai a four-pointer late in the half, while the Warriors pleas for a penalty try fell on deaf ears when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak failed to ground the ball after being tackled mid-air by Greg Marzhew in the final moments of the first half.
The Warriors came close to taking the lead through Jackson Ford and Watene-Zelezniak only to be cruelled by the bunker; a penalty goal to Shaun Johnson in the 54th minute levelled the scores at 8-all right as the rain began to pour down at its heaviest.
The Knights, buoyed on by a dedicated contingent of supporters braving the conditions, rallied in the wet and capitalised with Daniel Saifiti (63rd minute) powering his way onto a pass from Jackson Hastings to take a 14-8 lead.
Repelling the Warriors despite intense pressure on their goal line during the closing exchanges, the Knights stood tall to secure their fourth win of the season.
Next week, the Knights will face the Tigers in Tamworth on Saturday afternoon, while the Warriors will take on the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.