Jets run into a perfect storm against the rampant Panthers

Newtown came into this game against Penrith with the best defensive record in the Intrust Super Premiership – but they took a fearful hammering from the Panthers to the tune of 60-6.

The Jets fielded a somewhat understrength line-up and then lost several key players with injury during the game, ending up with no replacements on their bench for the last 15 minutes.

NSWRL ISP NSW – 16^th Round

Saturday, 25^th June 2016

St Marys Leagues Stadium

Penrith v Newtown

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Penrith 60:

Corey Harawira-Naera 3, Zac Dockar-Clay 2, Will Smith, Dylan Edwards, Kaine Ellis, Jerry Key, Josh Hall tries;

Jamie Soward 10 goals

defeated

Newtown 6:

Anthony Moraitis try;

Jaline Graham 1 goal.

Half-Time: Penrith led 30-6.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Fine, sunny, clear, 14 degrees C.

Referee: Damian Briscoe. Touch Judges: Matt Damaso and Jay Farlow.

Newtown’s team was:

Mitch Brown (Capt), Brent Anderson, Travis Robinson, Matt Evans, Corin Smith, Josh Cleeland, Jaline Graham, Kurt Kara, Anthony Moraitis, Kurt Capewell, Harrison Muller, Matt McIlwrick, Jesse Sene-Lefao.

Bench: Malakai Houma, Kenny Niko, Tarek Elmasri, Saulala Houma.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Penrith’s team was:

Dylan Edwards, Josh Hall, George Jennings, Will Smith (Capt), Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Zach Dockar-Clay, Jamie Soward, Moses Leota, Corey Harawira-Naera, Kaide Ellis, Andy Saunders, Sione Katoa, Viliame Kikau.

Bench: Brendan Attwood, Oliver Clark, Paea Pua, Jerry Key.

Coach: Steve Georgallis.

Match timeline:

Penrith kicked off, with Newtown defending the Leagues Club end of the ground.

Josh Cleeland made a break on the last tackle and then got his kick away.

3^rd min: Penalty to Penrith

Newtown’s first two sets were effective

4^th min: Mitch Brown trapped in-goal, repeat set to Panthers

Newtown ruled to have knocked on a Jamie Soward bomb

Penrith on the attack in Newtown’s 20 metre zone

7^th min: The weight of possession tells and Corey Harawira-Naera scores.

8^th min: Converted by Jamie Soward, Penrith leads 6-0

Penrith knocks on from the kick-off

Newtown mount an attack inside Penrith’s 20 metre zone, but the ball goes over the sideline

Penrith makes big inroads in the next set, Newtown under pressure

13^th min: Penalty to Penrith

Another penalty to the Panthers, and the Jets defence is under stress

16^th min; Will Smith beats 3 defenders and scores

Soward converts, Penrith 12-0

18^th min: Worrying signs for the Jets, Penrith looking polished

22^nd min: Great break by Mitch Brown, good pass to Anthony Moraitis who scores

Jaline Graham converts; Penrith leads 12-6

Newtown knocks on in the next set; Penrith quickly on the attack

Matt McIlwrick snaps up a loose Penrith pass and makes a break

Penalty to Newtown

McIlwrick leaves the field for a concussion test

Jets lose the ball on the last tackle and the attacking opportunity is lost

Another penalty to Penrith

28^th min: Dylan beats several defenders and scores

29^th min: Soward converts, Penrith leads 18-6

Penrith players are making plenty of off-loads and the Panthers completion rate is high

32^nd min: Soward, Jennings, Watene-Zelezniak all involved as Harawira-Naera scores

Soward converts, Penrith leads 24-6

Steele Sports commentary team say that “Newtown doesn’t appear to be on the same page”

Panthers are clearly winning the battle of the midfield

34^th min: Jets concede another penalty

Undisciplined play is cruelling Newtown

38^th min: More creative play by Soward and Dockar-Clay scores

Things are looking very grim for the Jets

38^th min: Soward converts, Penrith leads 30-6

Halftime can’t come quickly enough for the Jets.

Half-Time: Penrith leads 30-6.

Greg Matterson tells his players to go back to the start; the second half starts at nil-all

Penalties had favoured Penrith 5-1 in the first half

Penrith’s coach urges his players to stick with what they are obviously doing well

Second half commences.

Another penalty to the Panthers in the first minute, but they then lose the ball

Newtown in turn also lose possession

Harawera-Naera scores his 3^rd try, Panthers showing too much strength and power

Soward converts, Penrith 36-6

Newtown is clearly down in confidence and they are handling poorly

Wind is picking up in the second half and the temperature is falling

Errors and poor discipline dogging Newtown’s performance

52^nd min: Another penalty to Penrith

Poor Jets defence as Soward sends Kaide Ellis in to score

54^th min: Soward converts, Penrith 42-6

Kurt Capewell is off with what seems to be a knee injury

McIlwrick has not returned after leaving the field midway through the first half

Penalty count is 8-2 to Penrith

55^th min: Another penalty to Penrith for stripping the ball

Kenny Niko is injured in the 56^th min

Extended stoppage; Niko is stretchered off

58^th min: Newtown’s pushed passes putting themselves under pressure

Referee Briscoe penalises Newtown again and lectures team captain Mitch Brown about the repeat offences

60^th min: Soward kicks into the in-goal and Jerry Key scores

Soward converts, Penrith 48-6

Soward has been involved in virtually every try

Kurt Capewell is gone for the day

Penrith knock on and finally another penalty to Newtown

Josh Cleeland comes of with an ankle injury

No replacements left on the Jets bench

Jamie Soward nearly kicks a 40/20 but saved by Jaline Graham

One Newtown supporter remarks that it would be virtually impossible for any other form of misfortune to come Newtown’s way!

Jets defending on their own line

Soward’s in-goal kick goes dead

73^rd min: Jets lose the ball at their end and Penrith immediately put them under pressure

Dockar-Clay scores again

Soward kicks his ninth goal, Penrith leads 54-6

76^th min: Newtown allows a high kick to bounce; Josh Hall grabs the ball and scores

Soward converts, Penrith leads 60-6

Put Newtown’s situation down to defensive errors, handling errors, injuries, poor discipline and incurring penalties

Penrith had the majority of possession

Starting to get dark at St Marys Stadium

Full-Time: Penrith 60-6.

The Panthers have won their fifth game on end, and today threw down the gauntlet to all of the other top six ISP NSW teams.

Jamie Soward involved in seven try assists and kicked ten goals

He told Hawksbury FM that everyone in the Penrith team did their own job well and the team reaped the rewards today.

He was very pleased that the Panthers had only conceded one try.

Coach Greg Matterson emphasised today was a reality check.

Newtown’s repeated errors and high penalty count compounded all of their on-field problems.

If you take things for granted in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW competition, this is what can happen.

Newtown’s next game details:

NSWRL ISP NSW – Postponed match from Round 13

Friday, 1^st July 2016

Henson Park

Newtown v Illawarra Cutters

Kick-Off: 7.00pm.