The Knights were shut out 28-0 by the Bulldogs in their Week 2 pre-season match at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Canterbury delivered a comprehensive victory that highlighted significant weaknesses in Newcastle's attack.
The result served as an uncomfortable reflection of a forward plan that is still undercooked and lacking cohesion.
A shutout in a trial match underlines a failure to produce meaningful territory, cohesion, or consistent offensive threat.
The Bulldogs were able to score freely while the Knights failed to break down a resolute defence.
This outcome is not merely bad luck; it points to systemic problems in the new attacking structure implemented by head coach Justin Holbrook.
Those issues will need addressing before the Knights' Round 1 fixture against the Cowboys in Las Vegas.
Holbrook at the Titans struggled with players that can create with the ball in their hands and be a force in one way or another, so this isn't new, and that is not even the worst problem for the Knights.
One of the clearest problems against the Bulldogs was a failure to complete sets.
Newcastle struggled to string attacking sequences together and maintain rhythmic pressure on the opposition.
The 61 per cent completion rate and 18 errors left the Knights chronically on the backfoot throughout the match.
Without completion, it became impossible to build momentum or sustain phases long enough to disrupt the Bulldogs' line speed.
As a result, gaps never truly opened and the Knights' attack looked blunt and disjointed.