Warriors second-rower Ryan Hoffman has scored a late winner for a 26-22 first-round win over Newcastle in Auckland, with the hapless Knights suffering their 19th-straight NRL loss.
Despite Newcastle leading early and then late on Sunday afternoon at Mount Smart Stadium, Hoffman’s 73rd-minute effort ensured a continuation of the Knights’ losing streak, going back to round six of the 2016 season.
Taking advantage of an earlier break through the middle by new captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the old skipper rode three markers across the line.
The four-pointer masked a near-collapse by the Warriors, who wasted a 20-8 second-half lead to head into the final stretch two points down.
Centre David Fusitu’a had scored a first-half hat-trick to put his side in prime position, only for the Knights’ Jack Stockwell and Nathan Ross to turn the match around.
After dominating the first 10 minutes, the Warriors gave up the simplest of four-pointers to Knights centre Peter Mata’utia.
Rookie five-eighth Brock Lamb put up an innocuous bomb, only for the Warriors to watch as Mata’utia pinched the ball out of the air to score.
A Knights penalty goal for an 8-0 lead preceded some class from Shaun Johnson, who put the Warriors on the scoreboard in the 26th minute and the floodgates opened.
The 26-year-old, receiving the ball on the right, cut out one defender with a dummy before putting Fusitu’a in to score.
The try appeared to transform the hosts, with Solomone Kata bagging a second and Fusitu’a securing his hat-trick via two genius assists.
For the first, an outstretched Tui Lolohea rose highest to palm a deep cross-field kick back to Fusitu’a in the 37th minute.
Johnson then took on the Knights’ line in the final play of the half and released a flick offload, which Fusitu’a gobbled up on the buzzer.
Up 20-8 at the break, the Warriors looked likely to plough on but stumbled after Simon Mannering’s departure with a neck issue.
Repeated Knights sets of six on the Warriors’ line resulted in Stockwell breaking through to score, before the Knights put themselves within two in the 62nd minute.
Halfback Trent Hodkinson played the ball to the left edge, where winger Ross brushed off the last-gasp tackle of Johnson to score.
They then edged in front four minutes later as Ross bagged a second, but couldn’t contain a determined Hoffman at the death.
The loss will also be made worse for the Knights by an apparent serious knee injury to fullback Dylan Phythian.
The Auckland-based side managed to snap a seven-year winless streak in round-one matches.
The Warriors next week face last year’s grand finalists Melbourne, while the Knights will play Gold Coast.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Good on them! They will be keen to be a thorn in everyones side this year. As long as they dont get blown away too much and pick up a few (probably 4) victories this season will be a success.
Kilgore Trout
Roar Rookie
Knights started the game really well but faded with the first lot of interchanges . They looked the best when Levi was directing things . He looks set for a really good year . His service was quick and precise and got the forwards over the advantage line . The longer he is out there the better for the team . Real shame for young Pythian . He looks good . The same thing happened to Tedesco when he first came into grade . As for the Warriors ... that's their first get out of jail card for the season . I was sure they were going to lose for fair time in the second half . The 2016 Warriors would have towelled it for sure , so maybe things ARE looking up for them .A win is a win for sure , but they have a lot to do just to be any chance of making the finals . That being said they missed Luke in the 2nd half so did well without him . Great to see RTS out there . He was just starting to get in the groove with his new club last year when injury struck . He is short of a run but was great and in everything for the Warriors . He should be back to his best by mid season and really looking forward to seeing that .
The Barry
Roar Guru
They were on top for the first 30 minutes. The Warriors put on three tries between 30-40 mins and one just after half time. Once momentum went against the Knights they struggled to go against it. They did well to comeback. It looked like they might get blown away after halftime.
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
Didnt see the first half, but the Knights looked promising in the second. Just making the most of their opportunities.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The Knights looked like they were thinking about how many oranges they were going to have at halftime and switched off conceding some simple tries. I think the Knights will improve on last year but need to keep the effort up for 80 minutes. Warriors good on attack but not massively convincing. Soft try to Stockwell and couldn't close the game out.