NEWCASTLE have opened the 2017 NRL season with a heart-breaking 26-22 loss to the Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium.
Sunday’s defeat extended the Knights losing streak to 19, dating back to round six last season.
The Knights opened the scoring when centre Peter Mata’utia outjumped Tuimoala Lolohea to catch a Brock Lamb cross-field kick in the 10th minute.
Trent Hodkinson’s conversion, and then a penalty goal, made it 8-0 to the visitors after 21 minutes.
But Newcastle handling errors allowed the Warriors to capitalise.
Centre David Fusitua reduced the deficit in the 27th minute, followed soon after by a try from his centre partner, Solomone Kata.
Fusitua made it a double in the 37th minute and then bagged his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time, to make it 20-8 to the Warriors at the interval.
Newcastle clawed their way back into the contest and a powerful try from prop Jack Stockwell in the 54th minute, converted by Hodkinson, left them 20-14 in arrears.
Two tries in four minutes by Knights winger Nathan Ross lifted the visitors into the lead, 22-20, with 14 minutes to go.
But a barging try by Warriors veteran Ryan Hoffman put the home side back into the lead, which they retained until full-time despite some nervous moments.
