Evergreen Newcastle winger Adam MacDougall says he's mystified by referee Jason Robinson's decision to put him on report during the Knights' stunning comeback NRL win over North Queensland on Saturday.

MacDougall was adjudged to have caught Cowboys utility Travis Burns with a high shot in the final play of the game won 32-26 by the Knights after they had trailed 22-8 halftime at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

The 34-year-old former NSW Origin star insists he did nothing wrong.

The incident involved a challenge on Burns by three Knights players, but it was MacDougall who was singled out by the officials.

The Cowboys were furious at the incident with skipper Johnathan Thurston racing over to confront MacDougall, who said he felt the visitors were taking out their frustrating at losing the game on him.

"I wasn't even in the tackle so I don't know what it was for, I was just in shock, at the end there," he said.

"The Cowboys were trying to get me to react and throw a punch. But I was aware they were trying to bait me.

"There were two guys who ended up on the ground I wasn't even one of them, I went to go into the tackle but didn't, so I don't know what is going on."

MacDougall, who grabbed a try in either half for the Knights, praised rookie coach Rick Stone for not panicking at the interval with the Knights' finals hopes looking in jeopardy.

The Knights have now won both of their first two games under Stone after losing the last three before Brian Smith was pushed out early.

And the win gives them a sniff of an unlikely top four spot.

"I didn't know the score at halftime, we just spoke about the fact they had the ball for the last 12 sets and we had it twice," said MacDougall.

"We knew the momentum had to change at some stage and we had to stick to our game plan and it worked."

"Full credit to the coaches, we didn't focus too much on what we did wrong, more what we could do to get back into the game.

"There is no point in worrying about the score at halftime, it is not going to help you.

"Brian (Smith) gave the team a lot of scope as a team and Rick did his apprenticeship under him and to be honest I don't think he has changed that much since taking over last week, all he has done is change his title."

The win elevated the Knights back into the top eight and they will remain there with victories in their last two games against Canberra and Penrith.

"Where we finish will be determined in the next few weeks but our destiny is in our own hands which is where want it to be," MacDougall said.

"If we win our last two games we will be in the finals and who knows what can happen from there."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP