COACH Arthur Papas maintained the Jets were on the right path despite being out of contention for the finals when he inked a one-year contract extension on Friday.
The players backed up his theory with a 3-0 thumping of play-off hopefuls Macarthur at Campelltown Stadium on Sunday.
Goals to Savvas Siatravanis (fourth minute), Valentino Yuel (66th) and Beqa Mikeltadze (73rd) were enough to deal the Bulls' play-off hopes a heavy blow and end the Jets' three game losing streak.
The win propelled Newcastle to 28 points, eight adrift of sixth-placed Wellington with two games remaining.
The Jets have matched it with the best in the competition in patches but have been let down by lapses. There were no such issues on Sunday.
They controlled the tempo, broke with power and pace and converted their chances.
The times they were under attack, the visitors scramble well. Jordan Elsey and Matt Jurman were immense.
If only they had been able to produce similar 90-minute efforts more often.
Yuel, who took his goal tally to six for the season, said the result was proof of the Jets' potential.
"It has been a very frustrating season for us, but this gives us confidence," Yuel said.
"We know can perform well against very good sides. We know we are a very good side. Getting results back to back has been hard for us. That is what we have to do. We had a lot of players missing again today."
The 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 start for the Novocastrians!
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) May 1, 2022
Savvas Siatravanis scores his second goal of the season as @NewcastleJetsFC lead in Sydney's west.
Catch the match on @ParamountPlusAU now! #MACvNEW match blog: https://t.co/7vrsnAAIdL#WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/jCSoXazZv2
Facing three games in six days to complete the regular season, Papas made five changes from the outfit which lost 4-2 to the Central Coast.
Michael Weier came in for his fourth start in goals, while Dane Ingham, Sam Silvera, Siatravanis and Jordan O'Doherty were promoted.
The Jets had lost three on the bounce and Macarthur two, but the Bulls had the benefit of nine days to prepare for a must win game in terms of their finals aspirations.
Papas reverted to a back four with Kosto Grozos stepping into the No.10 role in the absence of suspended Brazilian Daniel Penha.
The Jets have been notorious slow starters but they struck in just the fourth minute through Siatravanis. A runaway Silvera was brought down on the right wing by Danny De Silva, who was booked. The Jets flyer dusted himself off and swung a searching freekick into the box. It evaded a line of heads and fell for Siatravanis, who had a enough time to pick a spot with a low drive.
The visitors had a golden chance to double their advantage six minutes later on the counter. Grozos released Siatravanis but his ball to Mikeltadze was behind the striker and the attack broke down.
Weier earned a clean sheet in his previous start - a 4-0 shutdown over Wellington on March 18 - and the giant custodian made two reflex efforts to deny Apostolos Giannou.
Siatravanis was forced off in the 23rd minute with a hamstring twinge and was replaced by Yuel.
Interviewed at half-time, Siatravanis said: " I was important to score early. I felt uncomfortable in my hamstring. I don't think it is too bad.
The home side started to mount pressure and ask questions of the Jets defence, with Craig Noone bombing foward and Ulises Davila getting on the ball.
It was end-to-end action in an entertaining first half.
Silvera's pace down the right touchline continued to cause problems for the Bulls.
Both coaches made changes at the break. Spaniard Mario Arques replaced O'Doherty in midfield for the Jets and former Socceroos striker Tom Juric was introduced for the Bulls.
How to snap a goal drought 🫰
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) May 1, 2022
Beka Mikeltadze reminds us he is still 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 Jamie Maclaren for the Golden Boot.
The Georgian International is just one goal away from Maclaren's league leading tally of 14. 🇬🇪#MACvNEW wrap: https://t.co/OORYQNiiY9#WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/KN61BBaxCW
The home side survived a goalmouth scramble just after the break in which the Jets appeared certain to score.
Juric almost made an instant impact, firing an angled shot into the side netting in the 51st minute and attempting a chip over Weier five minutes later.
At the other end, it took a brilliant save from Philip Kurto to deny Silvera in the 62nd minute.
Four minutes later Yuel finally doubled the advantage before Mikeltadzes ice the win with his 13th goal of the campaign.
