NEWCASTLE have opened the 2017 NRL season with a heart-breaking 26-22 loss to the Warriors at Mount Smart Stadium.
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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.
By half-time centre David Fusitua had a hat-trick and his centre partner Solomone Kata added another for a 20-8 Warriors lead.
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 Ryan Hoffman try gave the Warriors the lead and the win.
