A KNEE injury to Sione Mata'utia added to Newcastle's disappointment after a 38-12 trounching from St George Illawarra in Saturday night's trial match at Maitland Sportsground.
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Mata'utia was helped from the field midway through the third quarter and will be waiting anxiously for the results of scans.
The Knights started brightly in their first pre-season hit-out under new coach Adam O'Brien but the Dragons hit the lead on the stroke of half-time and dominated from that point.
After a rugged, scoreless opening quarter, the Knights drew first blood early in the second period when substitute hooker Chris Randall scored from a Daniel Saifiti offload.
Fullback Tex Hoy converted to make it 6-0.
The Dragons hit back in the 36th minute when they found some space on Newcastle's left edge and winger Mikaele Ravalawa beat Hoy's tackle to score in the corner.
Fullback Zac Lomax converted from the sidelines to lock the scores up at 6-all.
The Dragons dominated after the half-time interval and winger Jordan Pereira scored four tries. Both teams by this stage had made wholesale changes.
Rookie Knights hooker Luke Huth gave the parochial Maitland crowd something to cheer about when scored from close range in the 67th minute.
Newcastle rested Test prop David Klemmer, lock Mitch Barnett and new signing Jayden Brailey at quarter-time, and Daniel Saifiti joined them on the sideline midway through the second quarter.
Halves Mitchell Pearce and Kurt Mann played out all of the first half.
