View photosKEY POINTS:
Ivan Cleary has some work on his hands to get the Warriors' season back on track after they slumped to another loss last night that leaves them contemplating life in midtable.
It wasn't just that they lost, conceding three tries in the final 12 minutes, but the manner of the loss.
After an impressive first 30 minutes, when they opened up a handy 12-0 lead, they picked up where they left off against the Sharks last weekend.
Errors didn't just creep in to their game - it was more a flood, as kicks went out on the full, passes were grounded, soft penalties conceded and 27 tackles missed.
Cleary's side now have a record of four wins and four losses and face a much-improved Wests Tigers side at Mt Smart Stadium next Sunday.
In one respect, their position on the table is a little misleading, considering they've already collected two points for the bye.
For seven rounds, life was good as a Warriors fan. They were winning more than they were losing and playing well.
But then the Sharks visited Mt Smart and Cleary's team ran into a speedbump that would have knocked any boy racer off his stride.
Last night was supposed to signal a return to the controlled, disciplined and structured football that had served them so well in the first six weeks.
They followed this formula at the start of the game and looked like they would show that the Sharks game was just an aberration.
Ruben Wiki scored the softest of tries when he ran on to a short Grant Rovelli pass in the 13th minute and Jerome Ropati extended the lead just seven minutes later when he skilfully trapped a grubber kick with his foot, collected the ball and ran 90m to touch down.
The Warriors were rarely threatened in the opening 30 minutes but were powerless to stop Steve Simpson crashing over when he ran on to a Brown offload on the half hour.
It was then that the speed wobbles returned and would have left Cleary wondering if he was watching a replay of last weekend's game. When his side trudged off the field at the end of the match, their completion rate told the tale. It had slipped from more than 90 per cent to just 72.
The Knights were little better, as they often struggled to get out of their own half but the Warriors failed to capitalise, as mistakes reached almost epidemic levels.
It looked like the Warriors had wrestled control when the video referee, in somewhat controversial circumstances, awarded a try to Nathan Fien in the 52nd minute to give his side an 18-6 lead.
The Warriors hooker put a grubber in behind the Newcastle defence and touched down simultaneously with Clint Newton but there was ahint of a push from Fien on theKnights defender.
One more try would have put the game out of the home side's reach but a Kurt Gidley double, when he glided through some weak defence, ensured a grandstand finish.
As Newcastle grew in confidence, Adam MacDougall applied the killer blow when he crossed for another soft try with 90 seconds left on the clock.
The Knights deserved the points. They attacked with more vigour and purpose and looked the more likely of the sides.
There will need to be a fair bit of purpose next weekend if the Warriors are to arrest a worrying slide in form.
Knights 24 (K. Gidley 2, S. Simpson, A. MacDougall tries, K. Gidley 4 gls) Warriors 18 (R. Wiki, J. Ropati, N. Fien tries, L. Hohaia 3 gls). HT: 6-12.
