Wests Tigers have ended their Tamworth residency the same way they started it, slumping to a disappointing 20-14 loss to a disciplined Newcastle Knights outfit.
Despite looking promising in patches in the New England sunshine, the Tigers were left to rue their defensive lapses and ill-discipline on Saturday afternoon.
Their seventh loss in nine games leaves them stuck in the NRL's bottom three and sweating on injuries to Starford To'a (hamstring) and John Bateman (pectoral).
The efficient Knights bossed possession, maintaining an impressive completion rate on a slippery Scully Park pitch.
Centre Bradman Best was in top form for the Knights, the one-time NSW representative having a hand in two tries and four line-breaks and earning a post-game rev up from his coach.
"He was hands down our best player out there," Adam O'Brien said.
"I know (the NSW Blues) have got a team to pick in a couple of weeks. I reckon he's done himself a lot of favours there."
But the victory came at a cost for the Novocastrians.
O'Brien will be eagerly awaiting scans on five-eight Tyson Gamble's foot after he was withdrawn injured at half-time, while Daniel Saifiti could face further penalty after he was placed on report for a high tackle late in the game.
The Tigers got out to an early lead through an Isaiah Papali'i try, but the Knights struck back after Jahream Bula was sin-binned for an illegal strip on Dylan Lucas.
The Tigers' disciplinary issues continued when Papali'i conceded a penalty for tripping Leo Thompson five metres out from the tryline. He was lucky to escape further censure.
Newcastle captain Dane Gagai's wayward kicking kept the Tigers in the game at halftime, with the difference only two points.
While the Knights were missing Kalyn Ponga's sharpshooting abilities, veteran Gagai led the team with distinction one day after extending his future with the club for another two seasons.
The Tigers came out strongly in the second half and looked set to force a repeat set when a perfectly placed Apisai Koroisau kick stopped dead in the Knights' in-goal.
But a somnolent Tigers chase let Best sneak around their right edge and put through young fullback David Armstrong to score his second career try.
Best scored again with 16 minutes left to settle the Knights' nerves, shrugging off two Tigers defenders to go over in the corner.
Brent Naden reignited the Tigers' hopes after Daniel Saifiti was sent to the bin in the final minutes, scoring a try with one minute remaining to bring the game within a converted try.
But the Knights' 12 men hung on to secure their fifth win and bring them level on points with the eighth-placed Sydney Roosters.