The Warriors have overcome an early shocker and a fierce Newcastle comeback to post a first-up NRL win, standing strong for a 20-12 triumph.
New Zealand's NRL outfit were stunned by a Lachlan Fitzgibbon's try after just 111 seconds and were second-best for long spells at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
With the match in the balance, Bradman Best and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad produced try-saving tackles before Wayde Egan's 73rd-minute try sealed the points.
The result gives Andrew Webster a win on his senior coaching debut, and condemns the Knights to their first round one loss in six seasons.
Edward Kosi, Bunty Afoa, Nicoll-Klokstad and Egan scored the Warriors' tries, with Fitzgibbon and Hymel Hunt going over for the Knights.
The Warriors homecoming after three COVID-plagued seasons began terribly.
Nicoll-Klokstad dropped a high ball in the opening minute to give up possession, and the Knights made them pay.
Fitzgibbon crossed after receiving Kalyn Ponga's handoff, quietening the crowd.
The Warriors were lifeless until the 25th minute, when ex-Knight Mitchell Barnett sparked their comeback.
The second-rower found a gap past his former teammates and ran clear in a move that eventually found its way to Kosi, who scored with a one-handed dive in the corner.
Four minutes later, the Warriors were ahead as Afoa bustled his way past three to score under the posts.
The hosts were rampant and would have had three tries in under 10 minutes, only for Marata Niukore to be held up over the line.
Halftime couldn't come more quickly for the Knights, down 10-6 and also missing Tyson Frizell who was caught high by Nicoll-Klokstad.
The break did the trick, with visitors again starting sharper.
Ponga's quick hands were pivotal once more as Hunt ran over, with Jackson Hastings' second conversion putting the Knights back on top.
The topsy-turvy contest continued when Brayden Wiliame ran rampant and found Nicoll-Klokstad to score, making amends for his early blunder.
From that point, the scoring stopped and the brawling began.
Phoenix Crossland was sin-binned for a professional foul and when Wayde Egan was speared into the turf, a melee broke out.
But the Knights defended ferociously with 12, and might have gone ahead.
Ponga unleashed magic to race past four and across the line, only for Nicoll-Klokstad to produce heroics once more.
It wasn't to be Newcastle's night, with Egan dummying from a play the ball to seal the Warriors win.
Tohu Harris was enormous for the Warriors, producing 51 tackles.
