Bradman Best produced a man of the match display as the Newcastle Knights posted their third straight victory with a 20-14 win over the Wests Tigers.
The powerhouse centre scored a try, set up another and produced 11 tackle breaks as the Knights levelled their season leger at five wins and losses in a match played before a 10,000 strong crowd in Tamworth.
The Tigers, who led with seconds remaining in the first half, were left to lament tries either side of halftime as they slumped to their sixth loss in succession.
In a rain-soaked opening that saw the Knights lose their captain's challenge and returning Tigers centre Starford To'a forced from the field with a hamstring injury, a fortuitous offload from replacement halfback Bud Sullivan allowed Isaiah Papalii (15th minute) to charge over for first points.
The Knights worked their way into the contest after a barnstorming run from Best saw Jahream Bula sent to the sin bin for stripping the ball from the grasp of Dylan Lucas; rookie fullback David Armstrong split the hosts off a scrum and found Greg Marzhew (27th minute) in support for a four-pointer.
Apisai Koroisau appeared to push the hosts further ahead only for the bunker to deem the Tigers captain had used Alex Twal to impede the Newcastle defence in a try-scoring position.
Despite losing Tyson Gamble with a foot injury in the final moments of the opening half, the Knights struck a decisive blow after Dane Gagai executed a grubber allowing Enari Tuala (40th minute) to send the visitors to the sheds with an 8-6 lead.
Waiting little time to extend their lead after the resumption, the Knights went the length of the field after Marzhew sent Best on a barnstorming run, resulting in the incumbent NSW centre drawing in Bula and having Armstrong (43rd minute) in support to score underneath the posts.
A momentum shifting run from Bula, who streaked away after catching a line drop out, saw the Tigers come close to scoring with Papalii held up over the line; the rampaging forward (52nd minute) wasn't to be denied in the following set to narrow the margin to 14-10.
Taking advantage of a line drop out that failed to go the required ten metres, the Knights shifted the ball once again to Best (64th minute) who powered over to give the visitors the biggest lead of the game.
The Knights played out the final minutes a man down after Daniel Saifiti was sent to the sin bin for high contact on Jake Simpkin and withstood a last gasp try to Brent Naden (79th minute) to hold on for a 20-14 victory.
Next week at Magic Round, the Knights will face the Titans on Saturday afternoon, while the Tigers will come up against the Dolphins in the final game on Sunday evening.