Canberra dominated with powerful offloads, leading Newcastle to a scoreless first half, 16-0.
It was a tense opening and it was an easy end-to-end struggle until a Simi Sasagi break turned momentum before Matt Timoko busted 50 metres to give Canberra much needed field position. After 16 minutes, an Ethan Strange bomb was well taken by Sasagi to get first points.
Eight minutes later, a Jamal Fogarty 40/20 was rewarded when offloads continued to push the Knights away. A great offload saw Kaeo Weekes crash over next to the posts. The Raiders had nine offloads in the first half and it was another one that put Strange over for a 16-0 lead. Newcastle's first half attacking woes this season continued with the side booed off McDonald Jones Stadium for the second home game in three as they were held to nil for the ninth time this season at half-time.