Newcastle wunderkind Jesse Southwell has iced a match-winning conversion to seal the Knights' 22-20 defeat of the Brisbane Broncos.

In Sunday's later match, third-placed Canberra repelled a spirited Parramatta line-up to triumph 28-22, the result keeping the Eels winless so far this season.

Before a home crowd of over 17,000 spectators, defending premier Newcastle clawed back from 16-4 down to level the scores with back-to-back tries as the final 10 minutes approached.

But when the Broncos again kicked clear through Lauren Dam with eight minutes remaining, Newcastle was on the back foot once more.

Brisbane's goal-line defence had been the difference between the sides all day, repelling the Knights' repeated advances to begin the second half.

So when Brisbane held powerful forward Caitlan Johnston up in the final minutes, the Knights looked as though their chances were running out.

But that was before fullback Tamika Upton — the Knights' most threatening player all afternoon — spread the ball right to Shanice Parker, who completed a try-scoring double.

The ensuing conversion attempt was no sitter for Southwell.

But from halfway between the touchline and the centre of the goal posts, the 18-year-old piloted the ball over the black dot to seal a famous Newcastle win.

The victory means the Knights have won their last five matches in Newcastle, a streak that stretches back to the 2021 season.

The triple premiership-winning Broncos, meanwhile, are yet to break into the top four as the NRLW season passes its halfway point.

The Broncos started the campaign with back-to-back losses that have left them playing catch-up.

The Knights have won four from five matches and finish the weekend entrenched in the top four.

The Raiders looked poised for a convincing win when they sliced through Parramatta at will to score the first three tries of the match, with Alanna Dummett's first NRLW four-pointer putting the home side ahead 18-0.

But coach Darrin Borthwick was less than impressed with another defensive fade-out, as his side let the Eels back into the contest before grinding out the six-point win.

"We're definitely not happy with it," Borthwick said.

"I thought defensively we were going to be a team that had a lot more resolve than what we have at the moment, and the defensive efforts we've been putting in at the moment, it's just not up to the standard."

Raiders centre Cheyelle Robins-Reti put her side up 28-18 with 15 minutes left, only for Eels winger Cassey Tohi-Hiku to dash away and set up a grandstand finish.

But the Raiders held firm to make it four straight wins.

Canberra playmaker Zahara Temara continued her sparkling form with another two try assists to pick apart the Eels' defence in their first-half onslaught.

Parramatta fullback Abbi Church was prolific at the back with 144 run metres, adding a second-half try when her side was surging back into the contest.

Raiders second rower Monalisa Soliola left the contest in the early stages with a foot injury and did not return, while bench prop Grace Kemp also exited after a head knock.

AAP/ABC