Newcastle's execution was a long way from clinical but their enthusiasm and energy levels were up and they defended their line grimly to end a five-game losing streak and breathe life back into their NRL campaign.

Apart from registering their first win since March 28, the Knights regained the Allan McMahon Shield, climbed to ninth on the ladder on 10 points, and should rebuild confidence in the lead-up to their game against Brisbane at Hunter Stadium next Monday night.

Clinging to a 16-12 lead and forced to defend their line several times in the final quarter after a string of handling mistakes, the Knights came up with a rare scrum win against the feed then earned back to back penalties to set up the decisive try by rookie hooker Chad Redman in the 77th minute.

Stone made it clear to the players in the build-up to the game that they owed their fans a better overall effort than what they had shown in their previous five losses to the Dragons, Sharks, Eels, Cowboys and Sea Eagles.

Included in that losing streak were three at home. A loss to the Tigers would have been their fourth straight - an ignominious achievement that last occurred in 2008.

"I think our goal-line 'D' was a bit like what we showed in the first four weeks - that desperation... and there was some good resolve," Stone said.

"We just needed to win in some fashion. We just needed to win, and we needed to show our fans that we were desperate and we were willing to fight for everything to get two points today.

"The scrum against the feed was a timely one, for sure ... and we probably could have managed the last 10 minutes of the game a bit better.

"We ended up scoring a try but managing that a little bit better could have taken a bit of pressure off us, possibly, and maybe even another try there, but it was about getting two points today.

"We talked about the average fan coming in and paying his $200 to be a season-ticket holder, and what would he expect today, and he would expect some real desperation and some vitality and some energy out of the boys. Hopefully that's what we gave a bit today, even though clinically, everything wasn't perfect."

Knights captain Kurt Gidley said the gravity of their five-game losing streak hit home on the drive back to Newcastle after their 30-10 loss to Manly seven days earlier.

"You sit back and it shocks you a little bit when you've lost that many in a row after starting so positively [with four straight wins]," Gidley said.

"But we spoke about it this week, that we wanted to be more desperate and proactive in defence, and I think we delivered on both those things."

Tigers coach Jason Taylor lamented his team's lack of composure after losing the scrum against the feed in the 74th minute.

Knights fullback Dane Gagai had spilled a Luke Brooks clearing kick 15 metres from Newcastle's line and the Tigers appeared certain to mount an attacking raid from close range and give themselves a shot at snatching the game.

"Probably the most disappointing part of us losing that scrum when it was our feed was the way we reacted to that," Taylor said.

"We really dropped our heads, which I suppose is understandable, but the game was still there.

"It's not good enough to lose that scrum. That was in our control, and we lost it.

"I can't believe in 2015 that we're going to need to practise putting the ball into the scrum at training but it seems like we will."

Tigers skipper Robbie Farah explained his team tried to pack the scrum quickly and players were out of position.

"I think 'Brooksy' said one of the Newcastle players struck at the ball and kicked it into our legs which meant it rebounded back on to their side of the scrum, so I'm not too sure whether it went in properly but the ref called play on so that's the rub of the green," Farah said.

Departing centre Joey Leilua's try in the 55th minute broke a 12-12 deadlock after the Knights had led 12-6 at the break.

A controversial try to Tigers halfback Luke Brooks levelled the scores in the 50th minute after video referees Jared Maxwell and Steve Folkes had to adjudicate on three short kicks by Tigers fullback James Tedesco in the lead-up.

Maxwell and Folkes needed several replays before upholding the on-field call of a try.

Disputing the decision with on-field referee Gavin Badger, Gidley argued try-scorer Brooks was inside the 10-metre radius each time Tedesco kicked the ball but Badger countered by explaining a new "play phase" was created when Aku Uate played at Tedesco's second kick with his leg.

"Mate, it's a ridiculous call," Gidley protested.

Richards converted the Brooks try to even the scores at 12-12 but the Knights broke the deadlock five minutes later when McManus batted a Roberts bomb behind him and Leilua picked up the crumbs to score out wide for a 16-12 advantage.

After having three tries overturned by video referees at Brookvale Oval a week earlier, the Knights had one go their way in the 21st minute when David Fa'alogo pounced after Tigers winger Pat Richards spilled the ball in a tackle by Beau Scott and Jeremy Smith.

Referee Ashley Klein ruled no try but Maxwell and Folkes over-ruled the decision, indicating Smith did not play at the ball and that Richards was guilty of a loose carry.

Gidley would not elaborate when asked about those decisions afterwards but hoped they evened out over the course of a season.

"I'm proud of the boys, the way we defended," Gidley said.

"We were proactive, and we were up in their face at times.

"We weren't great with the ball but a win's a win, and that's what we needed."

Scott, a likely selection for NSW on Tuesday, was slow to his feet after suffering an apparent neck injury but he showed no ill effects and completed the game.

Rival centres Chris Lawrence (Tigers) and Sione Mata'utia (Knights) suffered head knocks in successive tackles in the 44th minute and were replaced, but returned later in the second half.

* The Tigers won the two lower-grade games on Sunday - 52-16 in National Youth Cup (under-20s) and 20-18 in NSW Cup.