Welcome to a warm Hunter Stadium where the Newcastle Knights return home after being humbled last week at Brookvale Oval, looking to get back into the winner's circle against North Queensland. For the Cowboys, they are also coming off a large loss to the reigning premiers and trying to fix their record in NSW.

TEAM CHANGES:

NEW: There are several changes for the Knights. Captain Kurt Gidley is out, as is Timana Tahu and Matt Hilder. Neville Costigan and Robbie Rochow have been promoted to the starting side with Danny Buderus, Adam Cuthbertson and debutant Korbin Sims joining the bench.

NTH QLD: Unchanged. 1-17.

KICK-OFF. Tyrone Roberts boots the ball and we're underway.

Newcastle have repelled the Cowboys in three forays to their line. Another dropped ball invites North Queensland in again.

13th minute: PENALTY to Newcastle, using the head in the ruck.

15th Minute: Error by the Knights. Cowboys are coming right back onto the attack.

16th Minute: Cowboys hand it straight back though with their own knock-on allowing Darisu Boyd to go on a mazing run.

22nd Minute: HIGH tackle penalty against Chris Houston.

22nd minute: Matthew Scott charges onto the ball, looking to bend the defensive line but he only succeeds in dropping the ball.

23rd minute: Jarrod Mullen dummies his way through a hole and saw the tryline, drawing the fullback and sending Buderus over until the hooker dropped the pass. He has bombed a certain try there.

25th Minute: Cowboys are caught offside, saving the Knights from handing the ball over from a forward pass. PENALTY.

28th Minute: Momentum has shifted to the Knights, earning them another penalty after some crashing runs.

33rd Minute: Good run by Anthony Mitchell undone with a knock on at the end of it.

35th Minute: Too hard of a pass from Michael Morgan as it rebounds off Tate's chest, knocked on.

36th Minute: Quick hands to the left, Anthony Quinn is jarred in the tackle losing the ball.

36th Minute: Another drop ball from the Cowboys in their own end.

37th Minute: Frantic end to the set as the ball rebounds off Michael Morgan and is lost by the Knights.

39th Minute: There is our sixth stoppage for blood in this half. A lot of players being cut tonight.

HALFTIME. After a nervy start, Newcastle dominated the half, scoring three tries.

We're back for the second half. Cowboys will kick-off.

42nd Minute: Lucky play by Mitchell on last, he scoots from dummy-half earning a penalty otherwise it was a changeover.

43rd Minute: Good hit from Robbie Rochow dislodges the ball from Michael Morgan.

49th Minute: Great kick from Jarrod Mullen finds Matthew Bowen out of place and Ashley Graham has to take it dead. DROPOUT.

50th Minute: Uate has room to motor but he's hemmed in and taken over by several Cowboys defenders.

51st Minute: PENALTY to Taumalolo after a strip.

51st Minute: No cohesion for the Cowboys tonight, Dallas Johnson with the error.

53rd Minute: Knights are just dominating physically here tonight, forcing another knock on.

54th Minute: PENALTY for an obvious strip. They opt for the two points.

58th Minute: Knights are just too fast for them here. Darius Boyd pokes his nose through and earns the penalty.

63rd Minute: High shot and Newcastle will get piggybacked out of their own end.

65th Minute: Penalty against Jeremy Smith. Cowboys will start their set on their own 30 metre line.

66th Minute: Thurston tries to kick for his centre Brent Tate but McManus is there. Another penalty against the Cowboys for a Thurston strip.

68th Minute: VIDEO REFEREE: Possible Uate TRY.

69th Minute: Error off the kick-off from the Knights.

70th Minute: Short pass from Thurston to Taumalolo is errant.

72nd Minute: A last tackle weaving run from Thurston doesn't come off. Changeover.

75th Minute: VIDEO REFEREE: Darius Boyd TRY.

79th Minute: Unneeded penalty from Neville Costigan, striking at the player.

FULLTIME - A convincing victory after the Knights after being under the pump in the opening quarter of the game.