After the Warriors suffered a bruising 40-32 defeat by Cronulla earlier on Saturday, the Knights (5-5) knew a win would move them two points clear with a substantial point difference over their seventh-placed rivals, with one round remaining.
Centre Sidney Taylor, prop Tayla Predebon and forward Fane Finau all stormed over within the opening 15 minutes to give Newcastle the perfect start at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Back-rower Sienna Yeo tallied the next four-pointer for the home team, but the Bulldogs found three of the next four tries to close the deficit to 28-12.
Both teams exchanged tries before teenager Charley Lahmert danced across the line and prop Tiana Davison scored.
Minutes later, Predebon grabbed two of the three next tries to secure a hat-trick and basically confirm Newcastle as the last team to seal a top-six berth.
Earlier, the Sydney Roosters strengthened their grip on a second consecutive minor premiership by thumping North Queensland 56-6.
Two rounds after recording the biggest victory in competition history with a 66-8 demolition of the Warriors, the Tricolours registered the equal second-highest winning margin at Queensland Country Bank Stadium to remain undefeated.
The result was also valuable as the Roosters moved four points and a significant for-and-against advantage clear of second-placed Gold Coast, who have a game in hand.
Fullback Corban Baxter became the first of eight different tryscorers when she crossed just 56 seconds in, before the visitors piled on another six tries to rack up the most first-half points in league history.
Trailing 38-0 at the break, the Cowboys settled and were rewarded as rugby union convert Ash Marsters muscled over, but nevertheless the ruthless Roosters dashed North Queensland's finals hopes.
At Go Media Stadium, Cronulla lifted themselves off the foot of the ladder by essentially ending the Warriors' (4-6) season of promise.
The Sharks (2-8) - who had lost a club-record five consecutive matches - surged home from a 10-point second-half deficit to keep their hopes of avoiding the wooden spoon alive.
Buoyed by the return of several big names, the visitors made a fast start with Marewakiterangi Samson crossing, despite a blatant forward pass, along with representative hooker Quincy Dodd.
But the Warriors flicked a switch, running in five tries to one, including a double to winger Payton Takimoana, to lead 20-16 at halftime.
Halfback Patricia Maliepo put the home team in the box seat after capitalising on centre Stacey Waaka's third try assist, although the Sharks stepped up, scoring four unanswered tries to take the ascendancy.
Recruit Gayle Broughton crashed over, but it wasn't enough as the Warriors - who were tipped to make the top six after enlisting a plethora of stars in the off-season - suffered a fourth-straight loss.
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