The Saints have won games against top opponents with almost manic desperation and individual brilliance in the past, but this was a controlled effort  built on solid defence and good ball movement.

“It’s certainly one of our best wins. They were really calm and controlled when the pressure was on,” coach Steve Mitchell said.

“I really gives the boys belief going into the finals. We have some quality players to come back as well including Wade Beard who I rate as probably the best player in the league.:

Any one of the Saints’ 22 could have been singled out, such was the complete nature of the team performance after they struggled before half-time to put scoreboard pressure on the Blues.

With the team looking downcast at half-time, Saints captain Rob Eddy rallied his troops and reminded them they were only seven points behind and had hardly been in attack.

Defensive midfielder Cameron Mitchell had been assigned to key City midfielder  Hayden Kavanagh, but Kavanagh continued to have an influence by using the line-breaking Mark Wheeler on the outside.

Coach Mitchell switched Mitch Greaves from the half-back line to play a shutdown role on Wheeler and the Saints were able to wrest control of the midfield where the backline’s attacking work had been breaking down.

Aidan Broadway gave the midfield the X-factor with his prodigious kicking off one step from packs linking with Aiden Damico and Jim Tarranto who started to play higher from the half-forward line to create uncertainty for the Blues’ defence with their speed hard attack.

Under-18 player Ryan Lloyd and under-15  Callan Sargent, who kicked the Saints first goal, made their first division debuts and showed more than enough to suggest they have big futures.

The Saints young brigade was again at the forefront of the win, with Sargent’s older brother Lucas and Chris Clarridge showing incredible calm in defence.

They both have good skills and with key defenders Dean Notman, Andrew Elbourn and Ben Crowley dominant in the air they kept the Saints in the game in the first half and provided a powerful platform of attack in the second.

The Saints’ defenders are now confident they have a player on the outside to escape packs and then create measured attacks by creative handball and run.

Josh Button may be one of the Saints’ smallest players, but he has a huge kick and chimed in with two goals to lead the Saints’ scoring on the day with Matthew Hogan and Damico.

With supply resumed after half-time, centre half-forward Hogan showed his strength in the air and on the ground to clear a path for his smaller runners.

The Saints, who sit fourth clear by four wins, face another big test this week hosting top of the table Wyong Lakes in the final round of the season before the finals.

Division 1

Maitland 0.2, 2.2, 5.5, 7.8-50

Newcastle City 0.3, 3.5, 4.6, 6.6-42

MAITLAND goals: A. Damico 2, J. Button 2, M. Hogan 2, C. Sargent; best: D. Notman, B. Crowley , R. Eddy , M. Greaves , M. Hogan, C. Mitchell

NEWCASTLE CITY goals: J. Cleaver 2, M. Wheeler 2, O. Dawes , J. Hartikainen; best: H. Kavanagh , J. Matthews , B. Saint , J. Hartikainen , J. Crace , M. Wheeler

Division 2

Maitland 0.0, 2.1, 3.3, 4.4-28

Newcastle City 3.2, 5.9, 10.13,14.16-100

MAITLAND goals: G. Davies , D. Morgan , S. Davies , J. King; best: G. Davies , H. Matheson , S. Davies , J. King , A. Hoffman , J. Taranto