The nib Newcastle Knights have battled hard to earn a triumphant two points with a 18-10 win over rivals, Manly Sea Eagles at McDonald Jones Stadium.
In front 17,348 passionate fans, the Knights earned a three tries to two victory over the arch rivals.
Celebrating NRL's Indigenous Round, the two sides sported their respective Indigenous jerseys and played for silverware, the Mal Reilly trophy.
The match kicked off and the Knights almost were off to the perfect start when Daniel Saifiti nearly got over for the first try but was stopped by a last-ditch effort.
However, it was the away side who posted the first points in the 10th minute.
Daly Cherry-Evans drifted down the left hand and put second-row forward Karl Lawton through a hole. Lawton found Brad Parker backing up and the centre crossed over to open the scoring.
Newcastle wrestled back momentum and had repeat sets on the Manly try-line but a costly error hurt the home team.
A knock-on inside the Manly 10 metre area found speedster Jason Saab and the winger raced 90 metres to score under the posts.
Reuben Garrick added the extras to put the Sea Eagles 10-nil up inside 30 minutes.
The Sea Eagles looked to have their third but it was ruled out as Tevita Funa impeded Tex Hoy contesting for a bomb.
The momentum swung back in favour of the home team when Sean Keppie was sent to the sin-bin for a late shot on Phoenix Crossland in the process of kicking.
The Knights were back on the attack and facing a depleted defensive line.
Newcastle through waves of attack at the Sea Eagles and made their way over the line on the 34th minute mark.
Starford To'a scored acrobatically in the corner to post the Knights first try.
Knights make the most of the extra man
Tex Hoy converted from the sideline to reduce the deficit to four on the brink of half-time.
Taking further advantage of the 12-men defensive line, the Knights scored their second try with Sauaso Sue crashing over under the posts as the half-time siren sounded.
The red and blue would take a two point lead into the break.
After the interval, the Knights continued to dominate possession with 25 completed sets to the Sea Eagles 18.
Watson plays flat to Sue as the Knights hit the lead
With Manly struggling to gain field position, a pin-point Daly Cherry-Evans kick forced an error from the Knights.
Soon after though, a Martin Taupau shoulder charge to the head on Daniel Saifiti was penalised and Manly would have their second player sent to the bin.
Manly won the ball back and were on the attack when Reuben Garrick made a break from inside his own half and Tex Hoy made a one-on-one tackle to stop the break.
From the tackle, Hoy went off with a head injury.
Both sides would trade possession heading into a tense final ten minutes.
The Knights defended strongly to keep the Sea Eagles out as the away side searched for points.
And up the other end, Daniel Saifiti would put the nail in the coffin and achieve a huge victory for the Knights.
The front-rower burst over short of the line to score under the posts and cue the roar of the fans at McDonald Jones Stadium.
David Klemmer was also sent to the sin-bin in the dying seconds.
The win is the red and blue's fifth win of the season and ends a two-game losing streak.
