It was the second straight year the Knights have fallen in the first week of the finals.

But it came after a hell of a fight. And a large dose of controversy.

With time almost up and the Knights down 22-20, Parramatta were awarded a penalty try after Enari Tuala impeded Parramatta centre Will Penisini as he ran through to ground a Clint Gutherson grubber kick.

Replays suggested that the ball had touched the ground before the boot of Gutherson.

However, the match officials ruled differently.

Game over.

It was among a host of calls, most 50-50, against the Knights.

Parramatta now face Penrith in a another sudden-death showdown in Mackay on Saturday night.

The Knights were bundled out at the same point last season, overpowered 46-20 by South Sydney.

Again Adam O'Brien's men were written off as finals fodder, but they produced a courageous display to almost snatch a famous win.

After leading 4-0 inside 90 seconds, the Knights leaked two tries just before the break and one within two minutes of the restart to trail 22-10.

But, showing new-found resilience, they found a way back.

Jake Clifford kicked for Tuala to grab his second try in the 53rd minute. Four minutes later Kalyn Ponga fired a double cutout pass for the winger's third.

But there would be no miracle.

The deflating loss spelt the end for departing duo Connor Watson and Josh King.