Knights centre Dane Gagai pressed his claims for Queensland Origin selection - and a new contract - with a starring role in Newcastle's gutsy 24-14 win against the Warriors at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.

Gagai scored two tries and came up with a crucial 60-metre intercept that turned the game when the Knights were clinging to a four-point lead in the dying minutes.

The Indigenous All Stars centre is hoping for his first Queensland call-up this year after training with the Emerging Maroons during the pre-season.

The 24-year-old's first-round form will surely have been noted by Maroons selectors and will also strengthen his bargaining power for a new deal.

The Knights are desperate to re-sign him but it is expected Brisbane will also be expressing interest in his services.

It was a promising start for Knights coach Rick Stone, back in the hot seat after three seasons as Wayne Bennett's understudy.

Boosted by a rare eight-point try, the Warriors led 14-8 at half-time.

Newcastle drew first blood in the eighth minute when Gagai scored out wide, after a quality cut-out pass from prop Kade Snowden in the lead-up.

From the sideline, bench utility Tyler Randell converted to give the home side a 6-0 lead.

But there was a significant turning point 19 minutes later when Warriors hooker Thomas Leuluai burrowed through a wall of Newcastle defenders to score.

After repeated replays, video referees Steve Clark and Steve Folkes ruled it was not only a try, but that Leuluai had been illegally kneed in the head by Tyrone Roberts.

As Leuluai was helped from the field to receive treatment for a head wound, Roberts was placed on report and the Knights were informed the Warriors would receive an additional penalty kick from in front of the posts.

Halfback Shaun Johnson converted the try and then kicked the penalty, lifting the visitors to an 8-6 advantage.

Newcastle's hopes were further dented when a Manu Vatuvei kick-return gave the Warriors a last-ditch attacking opportunity on the stroke of half-time.

With 11 seconds of play remaining before the interval, back-rower Ryan Hoffman broke two tackles and crashed over to score, despite Beau Scott's desperate attempt to prevent him from grounding the ball.

Johnson was again on target with his conversion, to give the Warriors an eight-point buffer at the break.

The Knights suffered two setbacks in quick succession when play resumed.

In the 45th minute, winger James McManus was helped from the field for a concussion test after being crunched in his own in-goal.

That necessitated a backline reshuffle in which Randell was playing out of position in the centres and Joey Leilua moved to the wing before McManus eventually returned.

Four minutes later, bench forward David Fa'alogo was sin-binned for a professional foul after illegally handling in the play-the-ball area.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Knights hit back in the 58th minute when Gagai slipped past Ben Henry and carried two defenders across the line to score.

From out wide, Roberts landed the conversion to make it a two-point ball game.

Buoyed by consecutive penalties, the Knights surged into the lead in the 66th minute when Randell scored a dummy-half try, converted by Roberts.

Newcastle sealed the win five minutes from time when Leilua stood in a tackle and off-loaded to back-rower Robbie Rochow, who dived over from close range. Roberts again converted.

Both teams suffered identical pre-game mishaps when fullbacks Kurt Gidley (Knights) and Sam Tomkins (Warriors) were ruled out with hamstring strains.

Test star Sione Mata'utia replaced Gidley as Newcastle's last line of defence, while the Warriors switched winger Tumoala Lolohea to fullback and brought in Solomone Kata on the flank for his NRL debut.