Newcastle have come back from 16-0 down to score a dramatic 24-24 NRL draw against Canberra at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.

In the first draw since 2013, the Knights and Raiders exchanged seven field goal attempts and Canberra missed a penalty goal in golden-point extra-time.

Newcastle found themselves down 16-0 after 28 minutes, but were leading 24-18 by the 72nd minute.

The unbeaten Raiders levelled with four minutes remaining after Brenko Lee scored off an overhead pass from Jordan Rapana and Jarrod Croker kicked the pressure conversion 10 metres in from touch.

The Knights looked headed for another heavy defeat when they trailed 12-0 in the 13th minute.

Josh Papali dived on a short kick from Williams for the opener in the 10th minute before Sia Soliola strolled over after a short ball from second-rower Elliott Whitehead.

It was Whitehead again who laid on the crucial pass as the Raiders made it 16-0 through Rapana.

The Knights, though, had tries disallowed either side of the Raiders’ third try.

Hodkinson’s put-down off his own kick in the 21st minute was ruled out because Robbie Rochow was offside, then Dane Gagai crossed out wide in the 36th minute but was called an obstruction.

Newcastle finally had joy in the 39th minute when 18-year-old Cory Denniss scored on debut in the corner.

Hodkinson’s conversion after the half-time siren made it 16-6, then prop Sam Mataora scored under the posts in the 63rd minute to make it 18-12.

Newcastle centre Pat Mata’utia stepped off his left foot to find space and score in the 67th minute and Hodkinson converted to bring the game level at 18-18.

Denniss scrambled over in the corner in the 71st minute and Hodkinson converted for a 24-18 lead before the Raiders sent the game to golden point.