Jacob Laban's try double has powered NZ Warriors to a 46-32 shootout win over Newcastle Knights, regaining the NRL competition lead with one week remaining in the regular season.Needing to win by 14 points to sneak past Penrith Panthers on countback, the Warriors did exactly that, but the result looked unlikely as they lurched out of the starting blocks to trail 16-0 early.Newcastle scored three tries in the opening quarter hour, before the home side could find the scoreboard, through second-rower Laban, sporting a new bleached hairdo for the occasion.The Warriors were forced into late changes to their selected line-up with halves Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita dropping out through injury.Jett Cleary - youngest son of former Warriors player/coach Ivan and younger sibling of NRL superstar Nathan - was handed his first-grade debut and played a major hand in several of the eight tries scored by his team.After Laban's opening try, they piled on three more to hooker Wayde Egan, lock Erin Clark and forward Demitric Vaimauga before halftime to lead 22-20 at the break.They have not lost a game from that advantage this season and were next to score after the restart, through centre Ali Leiataua, as Laban chased another Cleary kick and offloaded in midair to his teammate.Wing Luke Laulilii also made his Warriors debut, but left the game in the first half after a heavy collision, replaced by Adam Pompey, who was next to score.Back-to-back tries to Knights wing Greg Karzhew threatened to spoil the Warriors party, but wing Alofiana Khan-Pereira restored some order, leaving them needing a converted try to rise atop the ladder.They got that from Laban in the dying moments, as he cut back against the grain for an offload from Cleary to score near the posts. Fullback Taine Tuaupiki missed the first conversion of the night, but slotted the next seven - many from near touch - including the decisive kick for the 14-point margin.The Warriors now host Manly Sea Eagles at Go Media Stadium next Saturday with a minor premiership crown very much on the line.See how the action unfolded in our live blog below:RNZ / LIAM K. SWIGGS