The nib Newcastle Knights have been defeated 36-16 by the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night.
After leading at the break, the Knights conceded four second half tries to finish behind on the scoreboard.
The side fought valiantly, although the result is the Knights seventh defeat on the bounce.
The Cowboys jumped out of the blocks to start the game with powerful running in the middle leading to a try.
A raid down the left hand-side had Tom Dearden making his way to the line to open the scoring at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
The Knights responded almost immediately working a set-play off a scrum feed.
Quick hands had Dom Young crossing over in the corner in his first game back from injury.
Young hits back for the Knights
The two teams settled into their rhythm while enduring slippery conditions on the Townsville surface.
The Cowboys would post the next points with Scott Drinkwater finding Kyle Feldt with a lofted pass.
Similar to the first try conceded, the Knights quickly hit-back with Jacob Saifiti on hand to pounce on a loose ball in the in-goal.
Ponga kick Saifiti try
Not long after and on the stroke of half-time, the Knights took the lead.
Tex Hoy poked his nose through the line and found Chris Randall, who made no mistake to dive over next to the posts.
Randall gives Knights the lead
Kalyn Ponga added the two to take a 16-12 lead into the change of ends.
The home side were next to score after the break.
Murray Taulagi got on the end of a Chad Townsend kick and ran through untouched under the posts.
The Cowboys would have a fourth soon after showcasing enterprising play on the last play which ended with Valentine Holmes crossing the stripe.
Jeremiah Nanai extended North Queensland's lead picking up the scraps from a high ball and stepping his way to the try-line for the Cowboys fifth of the night.
Cowboys second-rower, Heilum Luki, secured the win for the home side claiming the ball of a Chad Townsend kick to score.
The Knights will look to end their winless run when they take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Magic Round next Friday.
