Cessnock coach Dan Smailes reckons an upset win against previously unbeaten Western Suburbs was exactly what his side needed to kick start their 2016 campaign.

The Goannas recorded a 34-24 victory over the Rosellas at Cessnock Sportsground on Saturday with hooker Josh Dimmock sealing the deal when he dived over from short range on full-time. 

Cessnock’s third win of the season keeps them inside the top five on six competition points but reduces the margin with frontrunners Wests (10).

“I’m really proud of my boys,” Smailes said.

“We needed something like that to start us off. We hung onto the ball and our completion rate was probably up around the 80 per cent mark for the first time this year which makes a difference. Our commitment in defence was excellent as well.”

Cessnock opened the scoring through Cal Orchard but Wests replied quickly with two converted tries and a 12-4 lead.

Consecutive four-pointers to Goannas trio Marvin Filipo, Shaun Metcalf and Brent Mendyk gave them a 22-12 advantage at half-time. The Rosellas rallied and it remained 28-24 for most of the second stanza.

A powerful first-half performance set up a 30-10 win for Kurri Kurri Bulldogs against Central Newcastle.

The Bulldogs controlled play in the first 40 minutes to go into the sheds leading 24-0.

Terence Seu Seu and Ben Wyborn were again in the thick of the action and Brady Hammond was strong in the back-row.

“The break probably came at the wrong time for us. Our first half was very good,” Bulldogs coach Phil Williams said.

“Our forwards made great yards and the backs were able to capitalise on it. We got Tyme Dow-Nikau back from NSW Cup and he added that extra strike power for us.

“Everyone did their job in the first half, they really played as a team.

“They came back in the second and it was a real hard slog, but we haven’t won at Centrals for a few years now so it’s a good result for us.”

Kurri Kurri Tries - P Dinauvoli, T Dow-Nikau, R Walker, J Moore, C Moran, J Hardy. Goals - K Hardy 3.

A last-minute field goal by Jonah Lisiua sealed a 17-16 victory for Kurri’s Reserve Grade team.

Kurri scored the opening three tries to lead 12-nil and then 12-10 at half time.

The score remained at 16-all from midway through the second half to the last minute field goal.

Open Grade notched their second win of the season with 34-24 scoreline. The lead fluctuated a number of times during the game.

The under 19’s again started slowly to be down 18-nil at the break, fought back to 22-all, with only a few minutes to go before eventually going down 28-22.

The highlight of the day went to  47-year-old Marty Lisiua making his return to rugby league. Marty is a legend in both rugby league and union in the Hunter.

His comeback aim is to play with both his sons Jonah and Terrence Seu Seu. He achieved one of those on the day when coming on a replacement in reserve grade and playing with Jonah.

Marty was a member of the first grade side when Terence made his debut as 16-year-old back in 2003.