New Castle Knights defeat Penrith Panthers 32 -14

An anxious Craig Gower enjoyed the perfect homecoming with the former Penrith skipper producing the crucial try in Newcastle's 32-14 win over the Panthers at Centrebet Stadium.

Gower, who has enjoyed a footballing odyssey since leaving Penrith in 2007, was one of five tryscorers for the Knights - who climbed up to fifth courtesy of their ninth win of the season.

The hooker could have been excused for having his mind on other things rather than football on Sunday, having driven down on the morning of the game with his wife Amanda set to give birth to the couple's second child at any time.

But with the Knights clinging to a 10-8 lead just eight minutes after the restart, Gower showed he was right in the game as he chased down a Jarrod Mullen grubber, touching down just inside the dead ball line with rookie Panthers fullback Matt Moylan willing the ball to roll dead.

From there Akuila Uate - who had not scored in is previous six matches - scored his second of the afternoon just before the hour mark to take the visitors out by two converted tries, any chance of a late comeback snuffed out when Kade Snowden scored his first try of 2013 ten minutes from time.

The Panthers opened the scoring first when Dean Whare crossed out wide, though there was more than a touch of doubt about the four-pointer with Whare's hand appearing to swipe the sideline as he acrobatically touched down.

It mattered little however with the Knights surging back to end Penrith's strong mid-season charge, which had netted six wins from their previous eight games.

Uate scored his first following a brilliant backline movement which stared with a long run by Joey Leilua down the left touchline before Uate bulldozed over Moylan down the right win to end his try drought.

Compounding the loss for the Panthers, forwards Mose Masoe (shoulder charge) and Lewis Brown (high tackle) were both placed on report for separate tackles which floored Robbie Rochow.AAP