Newcastle put their off-field dramas behind them to hold off Canterbury 20-16 in a major NRL upset at ANZ Stadium, but they were lucky Bulldogs goal-kicking great Hazem El Masri retired last year.

Trailing 16-0 at halftime, Canterbury scored four second half tries, two each to Josh Morris and Steve Turner, to get back into the contest, but they felt the absence of El Masri on Saturday night.

New kicker Michael Ennis missed all four attempts, including one from the sideline with five minutes to go that would have brought the Bulldogs back within a converted try.

The home side also looked certain to pull off a remarkable victory with just over a minute to go when young centre Jamal Idris broke away down the right side.

He had Turner catching up in support on his inside and will regret his decision to kick ahead, with Knights fullback Shannon McDonnell showing great desperation to get back to his in-goal and cover up.

They might have gone to sleep in the second half, but it was a courageous win for a Newcastle side who endured a harrowing off-season of controversy.

Most expected last year's Preliminary Finalist to win the round one clash comfortably, with the Knights still coming to grips with the criminal charges that rocked their pre-season.

Prop Danny Wicks was charged with drug supply and possession and stood down back in December, while star second rower Chris Houston will also face drug supply charges next month and quit the club just two weeks ago.

With inspirational captain Kurt Gidley and dynamic hooker Isaac De Gois also sidelined with injury, beating one of 2009's golden teams seemed a tall order.

A 60-metre runaway try to prop-turned-lock Mark Taufua, who scooped up a loose Brett Kimmorley ball in the 53rd minute, eventually proved the match-winner for the visitors who just managed to hold off the fast-finishing Bulldogs.

But Newcastle did all their damage in the opening 40, scoring three first-half tries to outside backs Cooper Vuna, Akuila Uate and Junior Sau, to totally dominate the home side.

Led by halves Scott Dureau and Jarrod Mullen, and powered by forwards Cory Paterson, Evarn Tuimavave, Newcastle controlled play.

Newcastle coach Rick Stone said he always expected his side to come out firing, despite the hits his club have copped off the field and in the casualty ward.

"I was always confident of that, I didn't have any doubts to be honest," he said.

"We spoke about resolve the whole week and what statement we wanted to make to ourselves, our fans and the league and I think there was plenty of resolve in that performance there tonight, even though it wasn't the prettiest one you'll ever see."

Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore was disappointed his team didn't turn up with the right attitude on the day.

Moore said Canterbury lost the game in areas other than Ennis' missed goal-kicks.

"Simple plain fact is Hazem has retired," Moore said.

"I've got every confidence in Michael.

"He works really hard on his game and I think everyone would agree, pretty tough conditions today and just about every kick was from out wide and the first three didn't miss by much.

"You're talking about a foot either way on three kicks that if they happen to go through well everyone is saying, Hazem who?

"It was just one of those things where individually we sub-consciously turned up expecting something to happen instead of making it happen."

Newcastle were left without any interchanges for the final 10 minutes with Junior Sau, Cooper Vuna and Ben Cross suffering injuries.

Cross (head-knock) and Vuna (cramps) should be fine, but there is concern over Sau who suffered rib damage.

Stand-in winger Heka Nanai was the Bulldogs' only worry, with a damaged fibia.

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