With less than 20 minutes on the clock they trailed 1-0, after spurning several opportunities in a disjointed display. Then they flicked the switch, scoring three goals in a little over five minutes to seal their fifth win of the campaign.
It represents their best ever start to a season and cements their place in the top five, well clear of the sixth placed Brisbane Roar. It's also a timely boost ahead of the clash with Central Coast Mariners next Saturday at Eden Park. The crowd will surely come; who wouldn't want to watch the Phoenix, in this kind of form?
When coach Ernie Merrick arrived in Wellington before the start of last season he talked a lot about attacking football. He wanted his teams to attack, he liked his fullbacks to go forward and he liked numbers in the area.
Last season the formula wasn't quite right. They took time to get going - then went on a run before petering out in the latter stages of the season. This year it's quite different.
Dutch import Roly Bonevacia has made a huge impact - and he played the final pass for all three goals last night. Roy Krishna has found his feet and showed his burgeoning confidence with a stunning strike from 25 metres to round out the scoring, and his form explains why the club is willing to grant Jeremy Brockie an early release in his contract.
Michael McGlinchey has also delivered everything that fans hoped. His movement and attacking runs create havoc for opposition defences and he adds an x-factor that the Wellington club hasn't always had.
The final - and perhaps most important - piece of this attacking puzzle is Nathan Burns. He arrived amid little fanfare, after the Jets had failed to offer him a new contract but is now the current A-League golden boot. He's full of confidence, running off the shoulders of defenders and his combination with Bonevacia and McGlinchey is terrific.
Burns has played himself into contention for the Socceroos Asian Cup squad and his goal in this match, his eighth of the season was crucial. Played through by a slide rule pass from Bonevacia, Burns showed great composure and touch to round the goal keeper and finish. Until that moment, it was a game that could have slipped away.
Earlier, the Phoenix kept up their run of conceding on the road - they haven't had a clean sheet in 28 consecutive games away from Wellington - when Joel Griffiths tapped home at the far post in the 25th minute. It came moments after McGlinchey had squandered an wonderful chance - stabbing over from six yards with the goal at his mercy - though the Jets also hit the cross bar twice in the first half.
The visitors dominated possession and territory but couldn't convert their advantage until the late three goal blitz from Burns, McGlinchey (bundling home a rebound from a fierce Bonevacia strike) and Krishna.
Newcastle Jets 1 (J. Griffiths)
Wellington Phoenix 3 (N. Burns, M. McGlinchey, R. Krishna)
Halftime: 0-1
