SOUTHS were knocked out of last year's finals series by Cessnock.
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A 12-man Lions also went down to the Goannas in the opening round of 2023.
Sunday saw Souths exact some revenge, overturning a combined scoreline of 120-44 from their last three encounters and moving within two competition points of the Coalfields club.
Rallying from six down early in the second half, 14 unanswered points helped the home side beat Cessnock 22-14 at Townson Oval.
"I wasn't really concerned about last year, but I knew when we played them up there in round one and they put 50 past us that hurt a lot," Souths coach Andrew Ryan told the Newcastle Herald after full-time.
"I didn't feel like we were that bad a team but I knew they were a very good side, which is what makes today even better. For us to come from behind and peg them back, even in the second half we had a heap of defence to do, it was really impressive."
A fifth straight win for Souths (14), coupled with losses for The Entrance and Macquarie (12), mean they now sit outright fourth on the Newcastle Rugby League ladder.
Cessnock (16), having also slipped to Wyong (16) last round after a perfect start to their campaign, share second spot. Maitland (18) move clear in front.
"I hadn't been thinking ladder, it was all about coming up against a team who'd been first for most of the year. It was a massive challenge for us," Ryan said.
Harry Croker and the two wingers, Harry Van Dartal and Jacob Afflick, were strong for Souths. Reeve Howard was the main injury concern, the Lions fullback suffering a suspected broken hand.
Cessnock captain-coach Harry Siejka was put on report after being sent to the sin bin late in proceedings.
The Goannas led 10-8 at the break. Van Dartel (14-all), Croker (18-14) and halfback Angus Ernst (22-14) crossed for Souths between the 54th and 73rd minutes.
Elsewhere on Sunday, already reeling from last week's departures of David Fifita (Wakefield Trinity) and Will Pearsall (ACL injury), The Entrance suffered another setback with pivot Jack Burraston assisted from the field during an 8-4 loss to Central at EDSACC Oval.
It was 2-0 at half-time with Harley Ridge crossing for The Entrance midway through the second stanza (4-2). Central's Jacob Richardson barged over for a try under the posts to retake the lead in the 74th minute.
The Entrance fullback Harrison Mulligan finished the game in the sin bin while Butcher Boys pair Greg Morris-Davis and Ethan Campbell were both put on report.
Saturday saw Wyong edge out Macquarie 22-14, Wests hold off Northern Hawks 24-20 and Maitland breeze past Kurri Kurri 40-12.
Wyong made it back-to-back wins in what was a tit-for-tat affair at Lyall Peacock Field, prop Jake Lewis barging over late to extend a 16-14 lead and secure the result.
Wests conceded three tries in the last 20 minutes at Harker Oval but broke through for their first victory since April 22. Hawks playmaker Scott Briggs was put on report.
Former NRL halfback Brock Lamb returned for Maitland as the Pickers ran in seven tries to beat winless Kurri by 28 points and continue a perfect record at home for 2023.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
