Giant Samoan international prop Sam Tagataese breaks through for the Jets against Illawarra on Saturday, with Newtown five-eighth Penani Manumalealii looming up in support. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography
Giant Samoan international prop Sam Tagataese breaks through for the Jets against Illawarra on Saturday, with Newtown five-eighth Penani Manumalealii looming up in support. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography

Illawarra’s second half power surge shuts down the Jets

The Newtown Jets have slipped down the Intrust Super Premiership NSW competition table following their 22-12 loss to Illawarra at WIN Stadium, Wollongong on Saturday. The teams went into the halftime break at 6-all, but the Illawarra team added three tries in the second half and were in control for most of the second forty minutes of play.

The Jets scored their first try in the third minute, but missed scoring opportunities in the rest of the first half that may well have changed the outcome of this match. Illawarra scored a runaway try late in the first half, and then added three more tries in the third quarter of the game. Newtown scored a converted try two minutes out from fulltime, meaning that the two Jets tries had been scored nearly seventy-five minutes apart.

Jets coach Greg Matterson noted after fulltime that while Newtown’s first half defence had been an improvement on the previous weekend, Newtown’s attack in the first half on Saturday had lacked the execution and polish to turn opportunities into tries. Matterson said that Newtown should have gone in at halftime with a strong lead and they paid the price for these missed chances.

Illawarra began the second half with considerable energy, scoring three tries in a fifteen minute spell. Newtown then managed to force Illawarra into several repeat goal-line drop-outs, but these were all in the last twenty minutes. The Jets were guilty of some defensive and disciplinary lapses in the second half that the big Illawarra forward pack fully exploited.

Jets front-rower Kurt Dillon turned on a strong defensive display in the wet conditions and was Newtown’s best forward. Tony “The T-Rex” Williams stood out in the first half but unfortunately was sidelined after halftime through a shoulder injury. Samoan international prop Sam Tagataese put in an improved performance and Jack Williams worked hard in defence.

The Newtown Jets travel to Campbelltown Stadium next Saturday, 25th March, to take on the winless Wests Tigers. Both teams will be desperate to gain competition points in this fourth round ISP NSW fixture, with the match timed to start at 3.00pm.

Hard-running centre Nene Macdonald played on numerous occasions for the Newtown Jets in 2021.  Last Sunday Nene was playing for Papua-New Guinea against the Cook Islands in the 2023 Pacific Championships - Pacific Bowl and he scored four tries. (Photo: Mike Magee).

Information about 2024 Newtown RLFC memberships; Newtown Jets playing in the 2023 Pacific Championship Series; and a reminder about Newtown RLFC merchandise.

Kyle Pickering and Daniel Atkinson, Italian rugby league representative team, 7th October 2023 (NSWRL Twitter) crop

These Newtown Jets players have gained selection in various end of season representative rugby league teams

Newtown Jets 2023 Presentation Night bottom image for web post

The Newtown Jets RLFC held its Annual Presentation Dinner on the evening of Friday, 29th September 2023 at the Petersham RSL Club.

Newtown Jets left-edge backrower Kyle Pickering (in possession) about to score at Henson Park on Saturday, 22nd July 2023. Jets fullback Manaia Waitere salutes the crowd after playing a clever role in setting up the try. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown RLFC 2023 Presentation Dinner Details

July 22, 2023 - Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, Kyle Pickering of the Newtown Jets scores his second try of the game during Round 21 of the NSWRL Knock On Effect NSW Cup at Henson Park in Marrickville, New South Wales. (Mario Facchini/mafphotography)

Newtown RLFC 2023 Presentation Night Details

Sunday Sun 603

The Other Premiers of 1943

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

Invisi-Gard
Jersey Minor

John Singleton Group
Sleeve

Schofield King Lawyers
Sleeve

Coverforce
Front of Shorts

The Henson
Back of Shorts

Sydney Park Hotel
Back of Shorts

Sports Medicine Institute
Medical Services & Rehabilitation

Label Plus
Major Sponsor

Arista Technologies
Technology Partner

Newtown Jets respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the Land and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on and that the land area encompassing Henson Park traditionally belonged to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.