Newcastle's nightmare week has finished in heartbreak as the Warriors snatched a dramatic 20-15 win after the final siren to all but end the Knights' finals hopes.
Already struggling on the field, the Knights spent the week contending with headlines off it, with reports claiming Adam O'Brien would likely be fired as coach after the season and that superstar Kalyn Ponga could follow him out the door.
On top of that, gastro swept through the club and meant only a handful of players were able to participate in the final training session ahead of Sunday's home game.
But with five minutes to play, halfback Jack Cogger landed a field goal from 37 metres out that just made it over the crossbar and put the Knights ahead by a point.
Stand-in halfback Tanah Boyd then missed a penalty goal that could have won the Warriors the game, awarded when Jackson Hastings was ruled not square at marker after Boyd's second unsuccessful attempt at field goal.
The Knights' home crowd rejoiced at Boyd's miss from the kicking tee, which appeared to have put their team on course for an emotional win.
But as Boyd lined up for a third attempt at field goal, Hastings charged the ball down, only for it to bounce into the hands of Warriors forward Leka Halasima, who ran 45 metres to score the match-winning try.
The result was a bitter pill to swallow for the Knights, who could have wrapped the game up in a dominant first half.
Newcastle led 12-6 at the break after targeting Warriors veteran Kurt Capewell defending at right centre, but could've been further ahead had Dane Gagai landed any of three attempts at goal.
The Knights also bombed three first-half tries, first when Greg Marzhew spilt a ball from a Gagai pass, and then when Fletcher Hunt and Cogger opted not to pass to unmarked men at close range.
Defeat left the Knights' finals hopes in tatters, with the side four wins behind eighth spot and unable to finish the season with a winning record.
The Warriors, meanwhile, have consolidated the top-four spot that appeared under threat from resurgent Brisbane and Penrith.