It looked as if Buderus would get a fairytale debut as coach of the club he represented 257 times, with Newcastle leading 20-14 at half-time.

Unfortunately, the Knights failed to capitalise on that strong first-half performance, as they leaked 32 points in the second period. 

It was a tough start for Newcastle as the Dragons jumped to a 12-point lead within the first 10 minutes of the game, and Knights prop Kade Snowden was forced off with concussion after being on the receiving end of a high tackle from Lesson Ah Mau.

Newcastle hit back in the 13th minute when captain Kurt Gidley crossed for a try, and a further three unanswered tries to Adam Clydsdale, Jake Mamo and Nathan Ross saw Newcastle take a six-point lead into the break.

Buderus used his first game in charge to introduce some fresh blood to the struggling Knights, with Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Nathan Ross both making their first grade debuts.

At 26, Ross became the second-oldest debutant in NRL history, and he marked his first game with a try in the 31st minute. 

The wheels quickly fell off for the Knights as the Dragons recovered to pile on five second-half tries.

The highlight of the match came in the 66th minute when Benji Marshall wound back the clock to score a magical try.

Marshall fooled the defensive line with an outrageous dummy before flicking the ball to Gareth Widdop. 

The Englishman put hooker Mitch Rein down the sideline before he threw the ball over his head into the lap of Marshall who planted the ball over the try line. 

Five-eighth Widdop was imperial with the boot, kicking nine from nine goals for the Dragons.  

The Dragons came into the game on the back of seven-straight losses.

The loss was Newcastle’s 13th of the season and all but ends their slim finals hopes. 

Buderus said his side will be looking to produce an 80-minute performance when they host the Sydney Roosters at Hunter Stadium on Sunday, August 9.