THE Newcastle Knights have been left to lick their wounds after losing hookers Andrew McCullough and Connor Watson to long-term injuries in an 18-12 loss to Canterbury at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday.
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McCullough tore a hamstring in the 24th minute and was replaced by utility Watson, who left the field six minutes later with a suspected ruptured Achilles tendon.
Given that first-choice hooker Jayden Brailey needed a season-ending knee reconstruction after the round-two win against Wests Tigers, the Knights are expected to reinstate rookie Chris Randall for next Sunday's clash with Melbourne.
Back-rower Sione Mata'utia also limped off three minutes before full-time.
In torrential rain, Newcastle produced their worst performance of the season against the last-placed Bulldogs.
Canterbury opened the scoring in the 13th minute when veteran prop Aidan Tolman crashed over and held a 6-0 lead at half-time.
Tries by Raymond Faitala-Mariner and Jake Averillo in the 42nd and 47th minutes respectively gave the visitors a shock 18-0 lead.
The Knights hit back in the 61st minute when Kalyn Ponga and Tautau Moga combined to create a try for winger Hymel Hunt, reducing the deficit to 18-6.
Eight minutes later, Mata'utia scored and Ponga converted to make it a six-point ball game.
It was the second year in a row that Canterbury have produced a boilover after arriving in Newcastle on the bottom of the competition ladder.
It was the Bulldogs' second win of the season and their first under interim coach Steve Georgiallis.
