KNIGHTS coach Adam O'Brien described it as an "ugly" win, but in the long run it may well prove to be a work of art.
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Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder, and for long-suffering Newcastle fans there are few sights more likely to warm the heart than beating Manly on their own turf. Especially when the victory involves the type of old-school guts and desperation the Knights displayed in yesterday's 14-12 triumph at Brookvale.
It's been a long time since Newcastle won a game in such a manner.
Back in round three, they produced similar heroics against Penrith but the result, after golden-point extra time, was a 14-all draw.
This time the Knights would not be satisfied with anything less than maximum points, even if it took until the final seconds of the 80th minute to seal the deal.
After losing winger Edrick Lee to a suspected broken arm and Sione Mata'utia and Kalyn Ponga to head knocks, the Knights withstood a second-half onslaught from Manly that would surely have broken most teams.
Their commitment to the cause was in complete contrast to their 32-20 loss to North Queensland a week earlier and, while it delighted coach Adam O'Brien, he acknowledged the need to perform with similar intensity on a consistent basis.
There is certainly no time for O'Brien's troops to rest on their laurels, given that their next opponents, competition leaders Parramatta, will arrive at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday in apparently irresistible form.
In all likelihood, the Knights will need to not just reproduce yesterday's effort but improve upon it, but the presence of 8000 fans and the self-belief they will have gained from outlasting the Sea Eagles at least gives them a fighting chance.
How many of O'Brien's players report fit for duty remains to be seen.
As the coach said at yesterday's post-match press conference: "There are some banged-up fellas here."
Lee will be looking at a lengthy stint on the sidelines if X-rays confirm a fracture, while Mata'utia and Ponga will both need to pass concussion protocols.
After ruing their tardy start in Townsville a week earlier, the Knights dominated the first half against Manly to lead 14-6 at the break, after tries by hooker Andrew McCullough and five-eighth Kurt Mann.
A Cade Cust try in the 66th minute left the visitors clinging to a two-point lead.
Apparently out on their feet, Newcastle made a series of try-stoppers on their line and were twice saved by the video referee when it appeared Manly had scored from Ponga fumbles.
The game went down to the wire when Manly winger Tevita Funa broke clear, kicked ahead, and was bundled over by Bradman Best and Tex Hoy. Manly appealed for a penalty, but instead had Addin Fonua-Blake sent off for dissent.
An ugly win? For the Novocastrian faithful, it was more like you bloody beauty.
