For the second week in a row the Warriors drifted in and out of a game against a side ranked inside the bottom three on the NRL ladder, and lapses in concentration and poor execution saw them fritter away scoring chances.
A blistering start from the hosts saw them post three tries for an early 14-0 lead before the Warriors fought back to draw level early in the second-half, only to let themselves down with an off-kilter final quarter that gave the home side their sixth win from their last eight starts.
The Knights followed the Cronulla Sharks' lead from last week's tight tussle at Mt Smart Stadium, with 15 offloads to the Warriors six giving them easy yards to keep the defence working overtime.
A hattrick to 18-year-old Knights winger Sione Mata'utia and additional four-pointers from his brother Chanel, and Joey Leilua, and four Kurt Gidley goals overcame the Warriors' five tries, with David Fusitu'a and Manu Vatuvei both posting doubles and Nathan Friend also scoring, while Chad Townsend kicked just one goal from five attempts.
The Knights started strongly with some good defence containing an early onslaught from the Warriors before back to back penalties helped them to three straight attacking sets. A third early penalty to the Knights saw Jarrod Mullen kick to find Mata'utia -- a late call-up for the injured Akuila Uate -- for his first NRL try after 10 minutes.
Defensive line-speed and changing angles in attack allowed the Knights to maintain the upper hand and despite defending admirably, the pressure eventually told on the Warriors when Leilua danced his way over for their second. The host's then benefited from a scrum win inside their own 20 metre zone, when Leilua fed Mata'utia to race 80 metres for his second to put the Warriors on the ropes.
With Newcastle enforcer Beau Scott looking to rile the Warriors main metre-eater Manu Vatuvei and a vocal Hunter Stadium crowd behind their team, the visitors were struggling until errors crept into the Knights play.
The Warriors made the most of the shift in momentum six minutes from the break, when a trademark diving one-handed put-down gave Fusitu'a their first try. Shortly after it was Vatuvei cleaning up a bouncing ball and sauntering in on the left for his 15th try of the season and with Townsend's goal they had climbed back to trail 14-10 at halftime.
Replacement hooker Friend caught the Knights goal-line defence on the hop when a rare dart out of dummy-half allowed the Warriors to draw level early in the second-half, but a lazy penalty and line-drop out kept the Knights within range, before Mata'utia's third and a second goal from Gidley put them six clear. Another penalty allowed Gidley another two points and birthday boy Chanel Mata'utia's try soon after had the Warriors staring down the barrel.
A second acrobatic scoring effort from Fusitu'a gave them hope but a late shot from Mateo on Tyrone Roberts saw Gidley goal again, only for Vatuvei to get his second try to set-up a grandstand finish.
Some free-flowing play saw Tomkins and Johnson take the Warriors close at the death but the Knights held on for a gritty win that leaves the visitors questioning their top eight merits.
Knights 28 (Sione Mata'utia 3, Joey Leilua, Chanel Mata'utia tries; Kurt Gidley 4 from 7 goals), Warriors 22 (David Fusitu'a 2, Manu Vatuvei 2, Nathan Friend tries; Chad Townsend 1 from 5 goals).
- David Skipwith of the NZ Herald
