Despite a spirited late comeback the Knights fell 21-15 to the Parramatta Eels in their second game of the 2015 Auckland Nines.
The Knights were caught off-guard from the get-go, towering winger Semi Radradra breaking through the Knights' line to run seventy metres and score a bonus five-pointer with under a minute gone.
Luke Kelly converted from in front of the uprights, the score 7-0 with one minute gone.
The Knights returned serve from kick-off, five-eighth Carlos Tuimavave dinking the ball high for Nathan Ross to score in the left corner.
Tyrone Roberts was unable to convert from the sideline, the score 7-4 to the Eels with three minutes played.
The Eels struck again on the back of an error from new Knights recruit Jack Stockwell, halfback Chris Sandow making a solo run to score on the right flank.
Kelly was unable to convert, the score now 11-4.
The Knights soaked up considerable pressure to keep the score at 11-4 when the half-time siren sounded.
The Knights started the second half in the worst possible way, Chris Sandow finding touch from kick-off.
From the resulting line drop-out Corey Norman sliced through the Knights' defence to score his side's third of the afternoon.
Radradra's conversion attempt hooked wide, the score 15-4 with eight minutes to play.
The Knights answered with a try to Chris Houston two minutes later, the rugged forward crossing through beneath the uprights to give his team a five-pointer.
Roberts converted to make the score 15-11.
Roberts was at it again in the 14th minute, the tricky halfback jinking past a defender to give young forward Joseph Tapine an easy try.
Roberts was unable to convert though, the score now locked at 15-15 with four minutes to play.
The Knights had staged a memorable comeback but the Eels had the last word with a try to powerful young forward Tepai Moeroa in the final minute of the match. Sandow converted to make the final score 21-15.
The Knights' final pool game takes place at 9.35am AEDT on Sunday morning.
