But the hosts at the Kiama Showground didn't have it all their own way, as the visitors jumped out to a quick 8-nil lead.

In the very first set, a move down the right edge saw five-eighth Dylan Farrell put back-rower Tyson Simpson into space before the latter found Paul Roberts on the inside to score.

Winger Braydon Walsh failed to convert and it was 4-nil.

Then in the ninth minute, a smart offload by half Rhys Fagerlund to Jason Gillard allowed the latter to hit Kuyan Wellington with a cut-out pass to score in the left corner.

Walsh again failed to convert and the lead was eight.

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Then against the run of play, the hosts had their first in the 20th minute.

Five-eighth Atkins hit centre Callan Thistlethwaite with a short pass, allowing the latter to hit a hole and eventually find his winger Matt Morris with a left-handed offload to score before the speedster stepped Jets fullback Gillard to score.

Half Cam Vazzoler failed to convert and it was 8-4.

One try quickly became two for both Morris and the Knights, as a clunky play to the right allowed the winger to burrow his way over for his second of the afternoon.

Vazzoler made no mistake with the boot, making it 10-8 and handing the premiers their first lead of the match.

Things got worse for the visitors soon after when Josh Power Farrell was sin-binned for being the third man in during an altercation between the two sides, following an injury to Toby Nobes.

But just when the Knights appeared set to score their third, Vazzoler's pass went to ground and was scooped up by Walsh, who ran 85 metres to score.

Dwyane Connors converted and the Jets led 14-10 despite being down to 12 men - which is how it remained until half-time.

Staying true to form in the see-sawing encounter, the Knights scored next following some magic from the 2018 Michael Cronin Medal winner Vazzoler.

The elusive half beat two defenders before throwing a no-look pass over his right shoulder to milestone man Atkins.

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Vazzoler converted and it was 16-14 with 28 to play.

Minutes later, Vazzoler grabbed a four-pointer of his own, this time stepping inside numerous defenders to score the hosts' fourth.

He converted his own try to make it 22-14.

Just when it looked as though the Knights were gaining the ascendancy, a moment of magic by Jets hooker Roberts helped create his side's fourth.

Floating across to the right, the playmaker beat four defenders before hitting winger Walsh with a perfect flick pass to score.

The latter converted from the sidelined and it was 22-20.

This try energised the visitors in defence.

But just when it appeared the Knights were going to have to kick from deep inside their own end, back-rower Tom Angel powered his way through the Jets' line before offloading to Thistlethwaite.

The next play, after Atkins and Morris made strong runs, skipper Kieran Poole darted out of dummy-half to catch the Jets napping on the right edge and score.

Vazzoler slotted the difficult kick and the lead was eight.

But the Jets weren't done, as Farrell put Simpson over for his second with four to go - minutes after Poole was denied his second for an accidental offside.

Walsh missed the kick, leaving it at 28-24.

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In their final roll of the dice, captain/coach Farrell attempted to barge over from close range but the desperate Kiama defence managed to push him out and secure the important two points.

In the four-point win, Josh Dowel was outstanding in an 80-minute stint in the engine room, while Poole and Vazzoler also starred for the hosts - who were without injured quartet Dylan Morris, Luke Chalker, Josh Toohey and Tom Harris

While Roberts, Gillard and Ryan James did all they could for the Jets, who are expected to welcome back Matt Scott next game.

Next week, third-placed Kiama take on Shellharbour at Ron Costello Oval while the Jets host the Eagles at the Bomaderry Sporting Complex.