Knights coach Adam O'Brien has vowed to accept the "hair-pulling" moments that might come from rookie David Armstrong because he expects they'll be far outweighed by ones where he stands and applauds.
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Armstrong, a 23-year-old from the small country town of Mungindi, on the NSW-Queensland border, made a brilliant start at fullback on Sunday as injured skipper Kalyn Ponga's replacement. He scored on debut to help Newcastle to an 18-14 win over the Dolphins.
Commencing an expected 12-week period without their marquee man, the Knights produced one of their best performances this season at Suncorp Stadium to claim a much-needed victory.
Armstrong scored the opening try and looked a constant threat in his maiden NRL appearance.
He almost bagged a double when he kicked for himself a minute before half-time, ran tirelessly throughout the contest - making 180 metres from 16 runs - broke 11 tackles and made no crucial errors.
It was a dream debut for a player who has proven himself in NSW Cup, where has scored 23 tries in 28 appearances.
"He is a little bit uncanny. Stuff happens around 'Davey'," O'Brien said.
"We actually had Darren Albert present him his jersey and we spoke a bit about how stuff happens around 'Alby', that [1997 grand final] try.
"Davey just pushing up on the inside of plays, it was pretty fitting that we got him to present that jersey to Davey, because he has got that ability.
"I know in the first half he kicked on play two, but I don't want to strip that out of him. You're going to have your hair-pulling moments from him, but you're going to have a fair few when you stand and clap him as well.
"I don't want to get carried away, it's his first game, but [he] done a hell of a job for us. I'm proud of him."
Across the board, the Knights were much improved, completing 21 of 21 sets in the first half and playing with an intensity in both attack and defence.
They had 70 per cent of the possession in the opening 20 minutes and made the most of it, scoring two tries to take a 10-0 lead.
Armstrong scored off an inside ball from halfback Jackson Hastings in the eighth minute, Dane Gagai crossed in the 17th.
The Dolphins hit back in the 25th minute through former Knight Oryn Keeley and Newcastle did well to hold them out before and after the break.
Tyson Gamble crossed early in the second half to extend the lead, while the Dolphins couldn't find any further points until the last three minutes, when they scored twice.
They were without a host of regulars, including attacking guns Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Hernbie Farnworth, and forwards Tom Gilbert, Thomas Flegler and Felise Kaufusi. They also lost Kenny Bromwich in the first half.
But the Knights were also impacted, losing forwards Jed Cartwright (ankle) early on and Jacob Saifiti (leg) late.
The victory, Newcastle's third this season, lifts them two positions on the points table to 13th.
Armstrong's maiden try came just eight minutes in. Hastings gave the 23-year-old a dream start to his NRL career, putting the fullback through a gap from close range on the left edge.
Dane Gagai crossed for Newcastle's second nine minutes later, the veteran centre dragging Bostock across the line before converting his own try to make it 10-0.
Former Knight Oryn Keeley finished off a 50-metre break on the right edge in the 26th minute, although his first NRL try was a controversial one with the pass he caught from centre Jake Averillo 10 metres out from the try-line appearing forward.
In the ensuing set, interchange Knights forward Cartwright dropped to the ground with an ankle injury and soon departed.
Three minutes before half-time, Adam Elliott made a crucial try-saving tackle to deny Dolphins fullback Trai Fuller.
Armstrong went close to bagging a double in the final minute of the half when he kicked a grubber for himself but was beaten to the ball by Fuller.
Seven minutes after the break, Hastings put Phoenix Crossland through a hole, and the utility offloaded to Gamble who scored to the left of the goal-posts.
Leading 16-6, the Knights were lucky not to concede a try when the Dolphins looked to have scored from some helter-skelter play, but the home side was ruled to have made a pass after a completed tackle.
A few minutes later, there was a similar break but Dolphins utility Kurt Donoghoe dropped the ball short of the try-line.
The Dolphins went close again but Averillo spilt the ball in the in-goal area after chasing down a kick.
Gagai's 66th-minute penalty goal put the Knights two converted tries in front, a lead which they almost needed.
Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako ultimately scored on the right flank in the 77th minute, before Averillo finished off a break down the same side of the field in the next set.
But Isaako's failed conversion attempts left the Dolphins trailing by four.
The Knights now have a week's turnaround before taking on the Warriors at home next Sunday.
