A sublime Michael Bridges volley in the 10th minute and a clever strike from Labinot Haliti in the last minute of the match gave the embattled Newcastle side their first win this campaign after a lean start.

"It has been a long time coming," Culina said after the match.

"I think we deserved a lot better than having to wait six weeks for a win but in the end I think the players have done themselves and the club proud.

"We knew what Perth was all about and I think you would have noticed that we prepared for it by the way we set the team up tonight.

"Full credit to the players for sticking to the game plan. I think we were very deserved winners."

Culina said the Bridges' goal was the perfect start to Friday night's match and was in contrast to Newcastle's season after creating a number of chances in previous matches without being able to put the ball in the back of the net.

"That is the name of the game - to score goals and win games," Culina said.

"We haven't done that in the first five games so it makes it tough but I keep saying that we have been playing some really good football but it doesn't get noticed when you don't win games.

"But it (the Bridges' goal) just relaxes the nerves but it probably puts pressure on us because we got to the stage when we were said ‘oh we are in front what do we do now?' but I thought we were a bit unlucky not to go into at half-time leading by two or three goals."

Culina also paid tribute to his bench with Ali Abbas, who came on for an injured Tarek Elrich late in the first half and Haliti, playing starring roles in the impressive win.

"We haven't won in five weeks and we were playing at home and the way our luck is going we weren't count on that either so we thought let's prepare and make things happen - we needed the players to do that," he said.

"I thought Ali (Abbas) was very dangerous when he came on, Labi (Haliti) scored a goal and could have had another one, so the bench did its job.

"We felt tonight we were up for it and not only the players on the park prepared but so did the bench."

The Jets coach also said Elrich's injury was a cork to his left thigh but it will be touch and go whether he will be able to play against the Gold Coast next Wednesday night.

"He (Elrich) has got a cork but we are hoping it is nothing serious," he said.

"There are few others with knocks doing it tough but we've been told by the doctors that Tarek (Elrich) will be tow to three days but corks are usually for to five days, so we will wait and see.

"But we have some depth so if Tarek is unable to make it (to the Gold Coast) others will come in."