According to Ricky Stuart, the hit was one of many that the 27-year-old has received so far in 2020 as opposition players appear to be going out of their way to hit Wighton after he kicks.

"Jack's been getting taken out of play after he kicks quite often," Stuart said.

"It's something we spoke about this week and I asked him to go to the referees and talk about it on the field.

"Because he's known as a good kick chaser, he gets pulled and tugged off the ball a lot. The referees should be looking at it."

While you never want to lose one of your best players for the final 10 minutes of a contest, Stuart knows that isn't what saw the Raiders sustain their first loss of the season.

"We were really poor... we weren't in the contest at all tonight," he said.

"We didn't accept the challenge and Newcastle was very good."

Newcastle's win was highlighted by several stunning individual performances. A returning Kalyn Ponga and an 18-year-old centre in Bradman Best were two of Newcastle's finest as the pair combined for over 450 running metres.

Before the match-ending collision, Jack Wighton had a mixed day at the office with a first-half four-pointer being overshadowed by a professional foul that led to a Enari Tuala penalty try.

Just minutes into the contest, the Knights got an early chance in attacking position after a rare Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad error and it didn't take long for Bradman Best to stamp his authority in the top grade as the youngster bursted onto a short ball from Pearce for a try in the second minute.

Kalyn Ponga gave the Knights a ten-point buffer in the 21^st minute with a solo, 30-metre try as he sliced through the Raiders' defensive line.

Wighton's highlight reel try came in the 31^st minute as he plucked a George Williams bomb out of the air and crashing over alongside the sticks to bring the Raiders within four.

Wighton committed the game-changing professional foul in the shadows of half time and after taking a 16-6 lead into the dressing sheds, the Knights were able to hold off a late Raiders' rally before Best's second four-pointer sealed the outcome in the dying stages.