Newcastle have emerged 30-18 victors over the Panthers in an NRL trial in water-logged Darwin.

The Knights opened strongly when Kurt Gidley converted his own try inside five minutes.

Brad Tighe also crossed for the Knights, but it was Penrith who led 12-10 at half-time through tries to Paul Aiton and Trent Waterhouse.

Then the heavens opened, but the standard didn't drop after the break, both sides displaying good ball control in monsoonal conditions.

Newcastle, hampered by the absence of stars Andrew Johns and Danny Buderus, scored first again in the second half when Cory Paterson went over.

Penrith hit back through Geoff Daniela and the score was 18-18 with fifteen minutes left on the clock.

Then Newcastle's rising star, 19-year-old five-eighth Jarrod Mullen, showed both athleticism and leadership to steer the Knights home.

The youngster led from the front, alongside Terrence Seu Seu, who scored a double.

Panthers coach Mathew Elliot said the loss allowed him to pinpoint gaps in their game that he could fill before the season proper begins.

"We just need to work on a few things so it was good for us in that respect," Elliot said.

"A large part of the result was Newcastle's superior kicking game and our inability to hang onto the pill."

Knights coach Brian Smith welcomed back that winning feeling.

"We can't help ourselves, everyone likes to win, it feels better," Smith said.

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