The nib Newcastle Knights NRLW side have suffered a heartbreaking 13-12 loss in their opening round clash against the Parramatta Eels.
A Maddie Studdon field goal with seconds remaining sunk Newcastle hearts after a gutsy and hardened performance.
The two inaugural teams left it all on the park during an enterprising encounter.
McDonald Jones Stadium set the scene for the historic triple-header, season opener.
The Knights started fast making good metres out of their own end and it didn't take long for the side to post the first-ever points.
In fitting fashion, the inaugural captain, Romy Teitzel, scored the maiden try for the Newcastle Knights NRLW side.
In a quick fire raid down the right-hand side, halfback Tahlulah Tillett found a flying Teitzel who dummied and went herself close to the line.
Teitzel scores the first ever Knights try in NRLW
The Eels looked to have hit back quickly, but a try was overruled by the Bunker for an obstruction.
A desperate, last-ditch tackle from Georgia Page saved a certain try soon after, holding up a Parramatta forward on the line.
The Knights continued their impressive defence effort repelling the away side on a few more occasions.
However, on the stroke of half-time, the Eels posted their first try with Tiana Penitani crossing the stripe.
Studdon added the two to level the scores heading into the break.
The Knights again jumped out of the blocks in the second.
The red and blue re-took the lead after a crash play short of the line sent Phoebe Desmond charging over.
On the 44th minute mark, a rampaging Desmond made no mistake close to the try-line to hand the lead back to the Knights.
Desmond crashes over to put Knights ahead
The two evenly matched teams kept battling away before the Eels would chalk up the next points.
A hard-running Simaima Taufa made her way to the line to bring the scores back to level heading into the final ten minutes to set up an enthralling final stage.
The Newcastle chant went up in front of just over 5,000 fans watching history unfold.
A frantic final few minutes saw the Eels almost score the game-winning try before being held up.
From the ensuing play, Studdon kicked the field-goal to hand the Eels the win.
With plenty of positive to take forward, the Knights will look to rebound against the Brisbane Broncos in Wollongong next round.
