The NZ Warriors hard luck losses continue, this time to the Knights in Newcastle as well as a couple of bunker decisions too.
Their own discipline, particularly in the first half, led to five penalties in the first 17 minutes of the 14-8 loss at McDonald Jones Stadium did not help, nor did the determined defence from the home side..
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It was the third consecutive loss for the Warriors and leaves coach Andrew Webster in a quandary of how to get his side back on track.
An early Warriors penalty handed the Knights a repeat set in the red zone and Tyson Gamble opened the scoring for the home side when he pounced on a Jackson Hastings grubbe in the in-goal.
The Knights went further ahead after the Warriors came up with their fourth penalty in less than 14 minutes and Dane Gagai slotted a penalty goal for an 8-0 lead.
The Warriors somehow found some momentum and a charging Dylan Walker crossed over the line to get the visitors on the board.Â
The visitors looked to take the lead in he shadows of halftime when wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak flew over for a trademark aerial finish but dropped the ball over the line after being tackled by Greg Marzhew in the air.
This was the controversial moment where it could have been a penalty try, but the bunker appeared to disagree with common sense and ruled in favour of the Knights instead, despite commentators and most viewers trying hard to work out how a player can be tackled in the air in the process of scoring.
After both sides traded sets and mistakes early in the second half, the Warriors looked to break the arm wrestle when Watene-Zelezniak dived over in the right corner but the try was called back after the bunker ruled Jackson Ford obstructed Hastings in the lead up.
Two minutes later the Warriors were handed an opportunity to draw even when Jed Cartwright was placed on report for a late shot on Tohu Harris and Shaun Johnson landed the penalty goal from in front of the posts to lock the scoreboard 8-8.
With 11 minutes to play the Knights took the lead when Hastings sent a short ball to Daniel Saifiti who powered his way through several Warriors defenders to put the home side in front 14-8.
The Warriors pushed hard in the final stages of the match with several opportunities on the try line but the Knights defence held firm to hold onto the six-point lead.
The Warriors season does not get easier, with games against the Roosters, Panthers and Dolphins in the next three rounds.
Newcastle Knights 14 (Tyson Gamble, Daniel Saifiti tries; Dane Gagai 3 goals) NZ Warriors 8 (Dylan Walker try; Shaun Johnson 2 goals). HT: 8-6