Dane Gagai has inspired the Newcastle Knights to a gutsy come-from-behind 24-14 win over New Zealand in their NRL season opener at Hunter Stadium.

After scoring Newcastle’s first two tries, Gagai took an all-important intercept as the Knights scored the final three tries to run over the top of the Warriors in front of 16,146 fans.

With the Knights having snatched the lead minutes earlier, the Warriors found themselves on the attack late in the match before Gagai scrambled out of the defensive line to pluck the ball from the air and run 70 metres, setting up Robbie Rochow to score the match winner just a few plays later.

Both sides lost their fullbacks before kick-off with Knights veteran Kurt Gidley and the Warriors’ Sam Tomkins both ruled out due to hamstring injuries.

On the back of an Akuila Uate break, the Knights were first to score when Gagai barged over in the eighth minute.

However the Knights soon went in front thanks to an eight-point try to Thomas Leuluai.

The Warriors hooker went up the tunnel to receive treatment to a cut to his head after copping a knee from Roberts while scoring. Shaun Johnson added the extras before slotting the penalty conversion from in front while Roberts was put on report.

The Warriors went ahead 14-6 when recruit Ryan Hoffman crossed on the stroke of halftime despite Beau Scott’s best efforts to hold him up.

The Knights went down a man in the 51st minute when David Fa’alogo was sin-binned for a professional foul – but instead of stopping Newcastle in their tracks, it seemed to spur them on.

Gagai bulldozed his way over while Fa’alogo was still in the sheds to reduce the margin to two.

The Knights hit the front with 14 minutes on the clock when Tyler Randell burrowed his way over after a Bodene Thompson penalty gifted Newcastle an easy passage into the Warriors’ end.

The Knights then sealed the victory via Rochow in the 75th minute.