Newcastle NRLW coach Casey Bromilow believes his side can still "rock this competition" despite losing their second straight match on Sunday to competition heavyweights Brisbane.
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The Knights fought gallantly to match it with the Broncos but were outclassed by the reigning premiers 28-10 on a wet afternoon at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
The Knights were in the contest in the first half and trailed by 12 points at the break but the Broncos scored two tries early in the second half to take a 22-0 lead.
However the Knights did hit back, scoring two late tries to trail by only 12 points and keep the game a contest until shortly before full-time.
"I'm extremely pleased with the girls' effort," Bromilow said. "Realistically, when you're coming up against the competition front-runners ... is that with five minutes to go you're in the game, and we were, it was very pleasing.
"The girls ripped in for each other today and had a red-hot crack."
Playing without props Catilan Johnston and Phoebe Desmond, who were key figures last week against the Eels, the Knights at times struggled to contain Brisbane's powerhouse forwards.
That, along with crucial errors, allowed the class of their opponent's experienced halves, fullback and right centre to do their thing.
"It's just ball control. We probably turned it over at the wrong times when we really could have been on the front foot," Bromilow said.
"But that just comes back to having a crack and it was very wet today. I think we can still rock this competition."
Errors at key moments prevented the Knights from establishing any real attacking ascendancy throughout the 70 minutes apart from their two quick tries.
Former Broncos player Maitua Feterika, who made her Knights debut replacing the injured Caitlan Johnston, barged over from close range with 13 minutes left to play.
Knights centre Jamie Fressard ran 60 metres to add another four points seven minutes later, but the Broncos struck back with Amy Turner scoring her side's fifth try to put the result beyond doubt.
The Knights looked to have opened the scoring with a wonderful team try in the ninth minute, a left-to-right play where the ball went through multiple hands before winger Katelyn Vaha'akolo put it down in the corner, but it was deemed a no-try due to an obstruction.
Bromilow didn't criticise the somewhat controversial decision despite the difference shooting to an early lead could have made.
"That's footy," he said.
The coach was proud of the effort of his forwards, who came up against "basically a Jillaroos forward pack", and said the Knights had shown Brisbane were beatable.
"They're a good team ... they've got some class on the field, but it just shows if your forward pack is willing to take it to them there is opportunity there," he said.
With only three rounds left to play, the Knights clash with the Roosters next week shapes a crucial encounter. Knights captain Romy Teitzel said with "little improvements" and "being able to get on the front foot in attack", the side would be a chance of recording their first win.