Riley McGree, who scored his first senior hat-trick on Saturday night, said Newcastle should have scored more. For the Jets, coming off a three-game slump, it was the perfect tonic heading into the finals.

"Yeah it’s very good," McGree told Fox Sports post match.

"We needed a confidence booster. We needed to get a result here tonight leading into the semi and we did."

Central Coast were swept aside in the remarkable F3 Derby that ensured the Mariners picked up their second wooden spoon in three years.

Newly appointed Mariners coach, Mike Mulvey, watched from the stands at Central Coast Stadium as the horror show unfolded.

It is the frst time in the league that a home side has shipped eight.

Joe Champness opened the scoring for the Jets on 10 minutes and bar a period late in the first half it was all one-way traffic.

McGree's triple (24', 53', 75'), a brace for Roy O'Donovan (20', pen 68') and goals to Lachlan Jackson (10') and Dimi Petratos (81') put the hapless home side to the sword.

A standing ovation for retiring Mariners legend Josh Rose

For the Mariners, goals to Connor Pain (39') and Trent Buhagiar (81') barely caused a wrinkle in the night's proceedings. It was especially hard for club legend Josh Rose who chose this night to hang up his boots.

McGree added: "I think it was a great result by the lads but there are definitely things to work on as well.

"I think defensively and the decision-making in attack - too many cheap giveaways. We could have created many chances and scored many more goals I believe."