Newtown Jets centre Travis Robinson gets his pass away to the fast-supporting half-back Fa’amanu Brown (on the left), with triple try-scorer Jordan Drew (centre) in close attendance. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography.
Newtown Jets centre Travis Robinson gets his pass away to the fast-supporting half-back Fa’amanu Brown (on the left), with triple try-scorer Jordan Drew (centre) in close attendance. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography.

Jets bring home two competition points from the Hunter

Report on the Newcastle Knights v Newtown Intrust Super Premiership NSW fixture, played at Cessnock on Saturday, 12th March 2016 by Glen ‘Bumper’ Dwyer.

The Newtown Jets overcame the daunting combination of a long-standing away game hoodoo, stifling heat and the defending 2015 premiers when they beat the Newcastle Knights 28-20 at Cessnock last Saturday. The Jets hadn’t beaten the Knights in an away match since 2008 and this game was played at the well-appointed Cessnock Sports Ground.

The Knights were coming off a first round loss and opened the scoring with a converted try in the seventh minute. Jets centre Jordan Drew, who had been forced from the field early in Newtown’s first round draw with Canterbury, scored the first of his three tries on Saturday in the eleventh minute. He then added his second five minutes later. Winger Jacob Gagan broke through the Knights defence and sent fullback Arana Taumata on a forty metre sprint to the line in the twenty-fifth minute. Newtown then had to defend strongly in the last fifteen minutes as they maintained their 14-6 lead into the half-time break.

The game’s third quarter proved to be particularly productive for the Jets, as they added a further three tries through five-eighth Josh Cleeland, half-back Fa’amanu Brown and Jordan Drew (his third) being the try-scorers. Newtown had a tight grip on the game with this 28-6 lead, but coach Greg Matterson was disappointed with the team’s performance in the final quarter. The Jets made a number of mistakes and the Knights had a surplus of possession and dominance in field position, as they scored three more tries to reduce the full-time points margin to 28-20.

Newtown had a number of impressive players in what was a morale-boosting away win, and a fitting reward for Greg Matterson in what was his 200th game as coach of the Newtown club at this second-tier level of Rugby League. Jordan Drew, a Cronulla Sharks NRL squad member and formerly with the Brisbane Broncos, turned on a top-class showing in the centres. Five-eighth Josh Cleeland, a member of the all-conquering Ipswich Jets of 2015, looked more comfortable in his new team environment. Experienced winger Mitch Brown and new signing Travis Robinson also impressed in the backs. Hooker Matt McIlwrick, backrower Anthony Moraitis, frontrower Kurt Dillon and lock Jason Schirnack were the best of what was a strong collective performance from all of the Jets forwards.

The Jets face up to another tough away assignment when they travel across the Tasman to take on the in-form New Zealand Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Sunday, 20th March.

Newtown's head coach George Ndaira (left) and Head of Football Greg Matterson are pictured with the 2024 NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup premiership trophy. George and Greg are both on deck again as the Newtown Jets head into the 2025 NSW Cup season. 
(Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown’s first NSW Cup trial game for 2025 is against Penrith at Henson Park on Saturday, 8th February at 4.00pm

This photo of the Newtown RLFC players, staff, Directors and sponsors was taken at Henson Park on the day before the final home game for the 2024 season.  (Photo: Mario Facchini)

The Newtown Jets celebrate what was a magnificent year in the history of Australia’s oldest rugby league club

Newtown Jets 2024 Presentation Night Poster

2024 NEWTOWN RLFC NSW CUP PREMIERS PRESENTATION DINNER & AWARDS NIGHT

Newtown's giant front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha gets into stride as he carries the ball forward in Sunday's NRL State Championship Final. Photo: Mario Facchini / mafphotography

Second half errors prove costly as the Newtown Jets lose narrowly in the NRL State Championship Final

Barry Vining of the Jets celebrates after the preliminary final of the NSW Cup finals series game between the Newtown Jets and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney on September 23, 2012. Jets defeated Bulldogs 34-6. (Photo by Jason McCawley)

Vale Barry Noel Vining OAM

Image: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

Newtown Jets Team List v Norths Devils Sun 6th October, 2024 (NRL State Championship)

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

HPH-02

Henson Park Hotel
Chest

John Singleton Group
Sleeve

PHILTER
Shoulder blades, Brewing

Coverforce
Front of Shorts

VIC on the Park
Back of Shorts

Strive Fitness
Gym

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.