Warriors 22
Knights 10
Having moved within spitting distance of the NRL finals, the Warriors will look to carve their own destiny over the final three weeks of the NRL regular season.
With Newcastle subdued and knocked out of contention by a Manu Vatuvei hat-trick at Mt Smart Stadium, matches against finals contenders Manly, Brisbane and Parramatta will determine where the Warriors finish on the ladder.
That may not be the easiest run home, but coach Ivan Cleary believes a side that has now won seven of its last nine matches will be relishing the chance to do damage to its rivals.
"It is a great opportunity," Cleary said. "When you are up against the teams who are around you and you are fighting for the same thing then the stakes go up a bit. And there is a lot at stake over the next few weeks."
Yesterday's win may not have propelled the Warriors too far up the ladder but it did provide them with a modicum of security.
The Rabbitohs' defeat in Melbourne means a chasing pack that also includes the Eels and Raiders are four points behind the Warriors with just six left to play for.
The Warriors have also leapfrogged Brisbane, whose defeat by the Eels on Friday night makes them the most vulnerable of the sides clinging to a perch in the top eight.
The Warriors have also moved above the Sea Eagles, who have a testing encounter tonight with the table-topping Dragons. Sitting even on 28 points with the Warriors, the stumbling Roosters and a Penrith side that has lost five of its last six games are within striking distance.
"It is hard work watching the competition table," Cleary said. "It can stress you out a fair bit if you are worrying too much about it. All I know is that if you win you get another two points."
Win the Warriors did yesterday, although they won't look back at the match as one of their better efforts.
Where the Knights were efficient without threatening in the early going, the Warriors threatened without being terribly efficient.
After an opening 20 minutes in which the Knights completed all eight of their sets while the Warriors completed just two and committing a staggering seven errors, somehow the Warriors led 4-0.
The stoic goal line defence that has become the hallmark of this team - and the thundering hooves of The Beast - were responsible for that advantage on the score board.
The opening exchanges provided a glimpse of what was to come, with the Knights pressing and seldom succeeding while Vatuvei had his way with Akuila Uate in the battle between the game's two most dangerous wingers.
"It probably wasn't the perfect start to the game but we finished it pretty well," captain Simon Mannering said.
Tries to Cooper Vuna and Dan Tolar saw the Knights peg the Warriors back after each of Vatuvei's opening two scores. The big winger's third on 63 minutes proved the match winner, with Bill Tupou making the game safe three minutes from the end.
The victory was a huge step towards finals qualification but Cleary knows his side must improve significantly to be a factor next month.
