Newtown Jets fullback Nathan Gardner cuts through the Newcastle Knights defensive line at Kurri last Saturday.

Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography
Newtown Jets fullback Nathan Gardner cuts through the Newcastle Knights defensive line at Kurri last Saturday. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography

Jets get close to victory in Kurri

Last Saturday’s second round NSW Cup match at Kurri was another occasion where the Newtown Jets were right in the contest, only to be denied the result in the game’s latter stages. The Newcastle Knights led 16-6 at halftime but Newtown came right back into the game trailing by 20-16 with less than ten minutes left to play. Two late tries to the Knights ensured last year’s Grand Finalists a 32-16 victory.

There was plenty of history on show at the well-appointed Kurri Kurri Bulldogs home ground. The Newcastle Knights have a commendable policy of taking most of their stand-alone NSW Cup home fixtures to the home grounds of the various Newcastle Rugby League district clubs. The grandstand at the Kurri ground is named after their famous local product John Sattler, and it is also the Rugby League ground where Newtown product Johnny Raper ended his distinguished playing career as captain-coach of the Kurri Bulldogs club back in 1974.

Saturday’s Jets-Knights match had similar playing trends to Newtown’s first round loss to Wests Tigers. The Knights had a bigger share of possession in the first half and poor execution by the Jets’ outside backs and conceding penalties gave the Novocastrians plenty of first-half attacking opportunities. Other errors such as not finding the line from a penalty kick and dropping the ball on the first tackle further contributed to Newtown’s difficulties.

Newtown fought back well in the second half and when they trailed 20-16 with sixteen minutes left to play, the game was there for the Jets to win. Coach Greg Matterson commented that this had been another winnable game and the Jets need to collectively develop a tougher, more ruthless mindset to come from behind and ensure themselves a favourable result. The Knights were a good enough side to take full advantage of Newtown’s errors at critical stages of the game.

The Jets coaching staff rated Tim Robinson, Ray Moujalli and Kurt Kara as the best of the forwards, with Blake Ayshford and Todd Murphy the best in the backline division.

The Newtown Jets face another tough opponent by way of the in-form defending premiers Penrith Panthers next Saturday, 21st March, at the Pepper Stadium (Penrith), commencing at 3.00pm.

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

Brad Fearnley takes the ball up.

Jets cruise past Knights in season finale

Tom Melville in his playing days for Newtown.

Tom Melville RIP

Image: MAF Photography

Newtown Jets Team List v Newcastle Knights Sun 27th August 2023

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.