Furious Newcastle coach Rick Stone launched a blistering attack on referee Alan Shortall and his players after the Knights went down 38-36 to the Gold Coast Titans at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday.

Stone accused second referee Shortall of influencing the result of the game after he penalised Ben Cross for not standing up during the play the ball with the Knights leading 30-22 and deep in Titans territory.

Following the subsequent kick into touch from Scott Prince, Titans winger David Mead went over to score.

"It was the biggest clanger in the game," Stone said.

"We have been under the pump as a club this year and have got some rough ends of the deal.

"Crossy clearly gets to his feet having played the ball and the message comes form the pocket (second) ref that he didn't play the ball and gives a penalty and they go and score.

"It was the biggest influence from a referee's decision I have seen in a long time ... it was appalling.

"I am in there chastising my players for some of their decisions and when the referee sees that ... he will be disappointed ... and you can write what you like it was the difference in the game."

Stone bemoaned the defensive performance of his side, in a game that yielded 13 tries and said his players needed to go back to basics.

"Our dishonesty cost us the game, we were in a position to win the game three or four times but our indiscipline and lack of concentration cost us," he said.

"A couple of time we had the foot on the throat but we couldn't take them and invited the Titans back into the game."

Stone refused to blame the absence of four of his players in the week due to representative duty for the defeat.

"We had a pretty good week despite not having the rep players, and the Titans were there for the taking.

Skipper Kurt Gidley said defensively the Knights were embarrassing and needed to work hard to address the problem.

"We are lacking, defensively other teams are sound and at times we were embarrassing and we have to learn how to defend those areas."

Stone said he was unsure how serious the injury to five-eighth Jarrod Mullen was after the playmaker limped off with an ankle injury midway through the second half.

"He has gone off for X-rays which will give us some idea but as of yet we don't know how bad the injury is ... and it will be a bit of problem for us if he is out for some time."

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