Courageous Knights hold-off charging Bulldogs

Newcastle put their off-field dramas behind them to hold-off Canterbury 20-16 in a major NRL upset at ANZ Stadium, but they were lucky Bulldogs goal-kicking great Hazem El Masri retired last year.

Trailing 16-0 at halftime, Canterbury scored four second half tries, two each to Josh Morris and Steve Turner, to get back into the contest, but they felt the absence of El Masri on Saturday night.

New kicker Michael Ennis missed all four attempts, including one from the sideline with five minutes to go that would have brought the Bulldogs back within a converted try.

The home side also looked certain to pull off a remarkable victory with just over a minute to go when young centre Jamal Idris broke away down the right side.

He had Turner catching up in support on his inside and will regret his decision to kick ahead, with Knights fullback Shannon McDonnell showing great desperation to get back to his in-goal and cover up.

They might have gone to sleep in the second half, but it was a courageous win for a Newcastle side who endured a harrowing off-season of controversy.

Most expected last year's Preliminary Finalist to win the round one clash comfortably, with the Knights still coming to grips with the criminal charges that rocked their pre-season.

Prop Danny Wicks was charged with drug supply and possession and stood down back in December, while star second rower Chris Houston will also face drug supply charges next month and quit the club just two weeks ago.

With inspirational captain Kurt Gidley and dynamic hooker Isaac De Gois also sidelined with injury, beating one of 2009's golden teams seemed a tall order.

A 60-metre runaway try to prop-turned-lock Mark Taufua, who scooped up a loose Brett Kimmorley ball in the 53rd minute, eventually proved the match-winner for the visitors who just managed to hold off the fast-finishing Bulldogs.

But Newcastle did all their damage in the opening 40, scoring three first-half tries to outside backs Cooper Vuna, Akuila Uate and Junior Sau, to totally dominate the home side.

Led by halves Scott Dureau and Jarrod Mullen, and powered by forwards Cory Paterson, Evarn Tuimavave, Newcastle controlled play.

NEWCASTLE 20 (J Sau M Taufua A Uate C Vuna tries W Naiqama 2 goals) bt BULLDOGS 16 (J Morris 2 S Turner 2 tries) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Jason Robinson, Bernard Sutton. Crowd: 18,110.

- AAP