Awestruck Newcastle coach Michael Hagan lauded his side for producing "probably the best team effort" he had ever seen in a good, old-fashioned National Rugby League arm wrestle at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

The Knights buried the Bulldogs 12-6 in the lowest-scoring match of the season - yet also one of the most frenetic, according to both camps.

There were only three tries scored and, as ever, a moment of class from Andrew Johns ultimately clinched the two competition points for the Knights.

Trailing 6-4 three minutes before halftime, Johns burst to life with a great cut-out pass to winger Timana Tahu, who dived over in the right corner, narrowly avoiding putting his hand into touch.

The Newcastle captain then slotted the conversion from the sideline and added a penalty goal in a tryless second half to consolidate the Knights' position in the top eight with their first success against the Bulldogs since 2000.

"It was all the things I expected. It was tough and tight and an absolutely outstanding performance from our boys," Hagan said.

"I think they'll sleep well tonight.

"It was probably the best team effort I've seen and also probably the best club effort, certainly in my coaching days."

Hagan rightly praised the Knights for their tireless tackling in a match Johns described as "lightning fast" but in which "no team would give an inch".

"It was a great achievement. The boys can take a lot of pride in that," Hagan said before making special note hooker Danny Buderus' phenomenal work rate and second rower Ben Kennedy's "super human" 80-minute contribution in his first game since round one.

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