Origin prop Daniel Saifiti celebrated his milestone 100th NRL game with a try double as the Knights opened their 2021 premiership campaign in style against the Bulldogs at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Knights produced a dominant second half to triumph 32-16 in front of a sell-out crowd of 19,555 with Saifiti among a host of strong performers for the home side.
Test backrower Tyson Frizell was outstanding in his Knights debut along with his backrow partner Mitch Barnett, who scored a try and kicked six goals for seven attempts for a personal haul of 16 points.
Hooker Jayden Brailey got through the full 80 minutes in his return from a long term injury and provided plenty of direction from the ruck while Mitchell Pearce had some great touches and featured in a number of tries.
The win came at a cost however for the home side with Kurt Mann hobbling off in the first half with a medial ligament tear in his knee and Bradman Best also forced off with a foot injury in the second half just after scoring a try.
The heavens opened to start the game and a David Klemmer error gave the Bulldogs the first scoring opportunity inside four minutes and the home side was made to pay.
The Knights left edge was caught horribly short by a Kyle Flanagan cut-out pass that gave his winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak a free passage to the line. Flanagan's conversion missed but the Dogs led 4-0.
The Knights hit back almost immediately with Daniel Saifiti running off a wonderful short ball from Mitchell Pearce to stroll through untouched from close range. Barnett converted for the Knights to lead 6-4.
The backrower pushed the advantage out to four points with a penalty goal before a Hymel Hunt mistake opened the door again for the visitors.
Off the back of three consecutive sets, Flanagan was again involved, passing off for Adam Elliott, who beat a sliding Pearce close to the line to force his way over. Flanagan added the extras for the Dogs to stick their noses back in front midway through the half.
But after losing Mann to a knee injury in the 28th minute, the Knights dominated the final 10 minutes to set up their 18-10 halftime lead thanks a try in the corner to winger Starford To'a and Barnett's try off a great short ball from Mann's replacement Connor Watson.
The Knights gave themselves some more breathing space with Daniel Saifiti's second try eight minutes into the second half, this time off a Brailey pass, and when Best crossed off another Pearce short ball soon after, it was a long way back for the Doggies.
