A last-minute try to Shanice Parker and conversion to Jesse Southwell has helped the Knights snatch a 22-20 win over the Broncos at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
The Knights were trailing 20-16 late on, before Tamika Upton and Parker combined on the right edge to level the scores.
Southwell's conversion from out wide on the buzzer secured a win that looked unlikely after they had trailed by as much as 16-4.
Earlier, a try to Jasmin Strange gave the Knights a brief lead before the Broncos hit back with two of their own through Ash Werner and Ali Brigginshaw to set up a 10-4 lead.
Brigginshaw was at her attacking best early with two linebreaks and an assist, but the brilliance of Upton repelled a Mariah Denman bust led by the Broncos halfback.
Jesse Southwell wins it for the Knights
The Knights had all the running early in the second half but couldn't capitalise on two linebreaks from Upton, with Strange bundled into touch and Caitlan Johnston losing the ball close to the line.
Back-to-back strikes from Parker and Sheridan Gallagher got the Knights back into the contest, but when Lauren Dam crossed with eight minutes to play, after Mele Hufanga's earlier four-pointer, the Broncos looked on track to claim a big road win.
Sheridan Gallagher try 59th minute
But it was the Knights who had final say, with Parker grabbing a short ball from Upton and bumping off the first tackle attempt to crash over the line, before Southwell held her nerve and kicked the winning two points.
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Match snapshot
- The Knights have now won three games in a row and are four from five in 2023.
- Simone Karpani left the field in the 32nd minute with an ankle injury.
- Broncos winger Ashleigh Werner suffered a head knock in the first half and did not return.
- A crowd of 17,043 was in attendance by full-time, making it one of the largest crowds at an NRLW fixture during the regular season.
- Yasmin Clydesdale was placed on report in the 32nd minute for leading with her leg into contact.
- Tamika Upton ran for a game-high 252 metres.
- Mele Hufanga scored her 6th try in five games for the Broncos.
Play of the game
Tamika Upton was again the star of the show for the Knights and her ability to shift the attack to the right edge late helped the side score three tries down that channel, including the match winner.
Shanice Parker 57th minute try
What they said
"Anyone who watched the game could see we were good control of the game but Newcastle are a good team. Those sides just never go away and you have to play well and until the 70th minute which proved again today. We had our chances and let that one slip. We've got to give ourselves a rap as well, we defended our line quite well and they had repeat sets on us. It makes for a very tight season." - Broncos coach Scott Prince.
Broncos: Round 5
"There's a couple of things there in that when it's 16-4 and to actually stay in the game and believe that we can come back the other side. It shows the fortitude of our team mentally and the resolve to keep turning up for each other. Those sorts of wins galvanise a team and build character." - Knights coach Ron Griffiths.
Knights: Round 5
What's next
Both sides are in action on home turf in Round 6 with the Knights hosting the Sharks in a double-header with the men's sides on Sunday. The Broncos will host the Raiders at Totally Workwear Stadium.