Newtown Rugby League Football Club - Established 1908
2012 Newtown RLFC Victory Dinner and Presentation Night

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Jets end successful year on a high note

TRY!
9 to go, Nafe dives over!

VICTORY!
Morts lifts the cup!

JOY!
We won! We won! We won!

Photos courtesy of our great Newtown photographers, Gary Sutherland, Mike Bidboudis and Jason McCauley

The Newtown Jets have ended a successful Rugby League season with a splendid Presentation Night and Victory Dinner on the evening of Wednesday, 21 November. The function was attended by more than 300 people and was held at the Petersham RSL Club, one of the Jets' long-term and major sponsors.

Looking back on a great year

2012 has been a remarkable year for the Jets, with the VB NSW Cup premiership victory being Newtown's highest-level of Rugby League success in 38 years. The Jets won the NSW Rugby League reserve grade premiership back in 1974, with the former reserve grade competition being a forerunner of the present-day NSW Cup.

An exhilarating journey

The extraordinary manner in which the 2012 NSW Cup premiership was won is worth revisiting.

The Jets finished in seventh place on the final NSW Cup competition table, and had to win a succession of sudden death elimination finals to qualify for the Grand Final.

Nothing could stand in the Jets' way as they won one thrilling finals encounter after another, backed up all the way by an army of vociferous supporters.

The Jets met another NSW Rugby League 1908 foundation club, the Balmain Tigers, in the VB NSW Cup Grand Final at ANZ Stadium on Sunday, 30 September.

The premiership decider was another thriller, with the Jets coming from behind late in the game to triumph by 22-18.

More than 600,000 viewers across eastern Australia watched the NSW Cup Grand Final on Channel 9, a record viewing audience for this competition.

Players and volunteers recognised

  • The major award winners at the club's Presentation Night included courageous forward Kurt Kara, who won the prestigious Fred Daly Memorial Shield.

    This award is made to the player who has contributed most to the club on and off the playing field in the current season. Kara's bravery during the finals in playing on with a serious ear injury capped off another impressive year for this quality Waikato (NZ) product.

  • The skilful front-rower, Andrew Pearn, won the club's best and fairest award, as well as the best forward award for 2012. Pearn has previously played with several other clubs in the NSW Cup competition but certainly reserved his best-ever form for the Newtown Jets, earning himself a premiership-winner's medal in the process.
  • Acrobatic winger, Daniel Tupou, won the best back and leading try-scorer awards, having scored 21 tries for the season mostly through his well-practiced leap and catch try-scoring routine, including Newtown's first try in the NSW Cup Grand Final. Tupou also scored several more tries for the Sydney Roosters during his NRL appearances with the Tricolours in 2012.
  • Other players' awards for 2012 included: most improved - Saulala Houma; coach's award - Adam Henry; most consistent - Isaac Liu; players' player - Ahmad Ellaz; leading points-scorer - Mark Kheirallah.
  • The Jets head coach Greg Matterson and director of operations Stuart McCarthy were jointly-awarded the club person of the year award (for non-players who have made major contributions to the club during the year).
  • Four special awards were made to the players who featured in four special moments of the 2012 Season, designated 'Great escape' moments in our march to the premiership victory.
    • Great escape Part 1 - Goal to Glory!
      Jack Littlejohn's perfect goal-kicking throughout the game and finally THAT after-the-siren penalty conversion on Reunion day, which caterpulted the Jets into the Finals!
    • Great escape Part 2 - Charge down
      The scoreboard showed 24-30 against the Bears in Week 2 of the Finals, when big Mose Masoe, in an incredible display of determination and aerobic fitness, charged down a Bears' drop-goal attempt, regathered the ball at speed and set up support for Daniel Mortimer's score-levelling try!
    • Great escape Part 3 - Pandemonium
      In the same game, in extra time, a 3rd minute play-the-ball infringement by the Bears saw Daniel Mortimer line up a penalty-goal attempt from 35 metres out and 10 metres in from the sideline. As his kick went straight between the uprights, the team and the hundreds of Newtown supporters at Leichhardt erupted into a frenzy of celebrations.
    • Great escape Part 4 - Grand Final Glory, the matchwinner
      The lead changed four times in the second half of the Grand Final and the Tigers were leading with just 9 minutes to go when Nafe Seluini detected the defence moving up too quickly on their line and dived through for the MATCH WINNER!

Several speakers on the night pointed to the special qualities of the Newtown Jets club, highlighting the old club's exceptional contribution to the Rugby League game, to the community and indeed to Sydney folklore.

Due credit and sincere thanks were also made to all the Newtown club's sponsors, who through their generosity and loyalty keep the famous royal blue colours running around in a high-standard Rugby League competition.

Welcoming our 105th year with confidence and expectation

This well-attended and exuberant function brought to a fitting end what has been one of the greatest seasons in the club's 104-year history.

The 2013 Rugby League season has already commenced with training sessions underway, and with the Newtown Jets players, coaching staff, officials, members and supporters looking towards another new season with confidence and high expectations.

Enjoy the night's highlights in Gary Sutherland's Victory Dinner and Awards Night photo gallery.

Preview the 2012 Journey of the Jets on Youtube - A DVD of the limited edition long-playing video, 2012 Journey of the Jets, was given to each attendee at the dinner and will be available soon from Jets Clothing and local Jets outlets.

Did you miss the 2012 action?

Then make sure you catch the 2013 action at Jets home games
at Henson Park next year!

Make a commitment to this great club
by taking out a 2013 Newtown Jets membership
.

There are membership options to suit everyone,
from season tickets for the whole season or just a few games,
to memberships for families, kids and remote supporters -
those supporters out there in the Newtown diaspora!

And in the meantime...
relive the great escape moments
on the road to Victory!

And why not sing along with "Newtown, Newtown" in anticipation of another exciting season!

Epitomising the Newtown spirit

Club persons of the year
Greg Matterson
Stuart McCarthy

Outstanding Service Award
Ray Bannon

Delivering the gameday experience
Players' awards

The Fred Daly Memorial Shield
Kurt Kara

Leading Points Scorer
Mark Kheirallah (9 tries, 52 goals = 140 points)

Leading Try Scorer
Best Back
Daniel Tupou (21 tries)

Most Improved Player
Saulala Houma

Coach's Award
Adam Henry

Most Consistent Player
Isaac Liu

Players' Player Award
Ahmad Ellaz

Best and Fairest
Best forward
Andrew Pearn

Providing vital gameday support

Ball Boys' Award
Jake Ashley
Zac Doyle
Tom Sargood
Ayden Stevens

Statisticians' Award
Matthew Borg
Patrick Curteis

Medical Services Award
Dr. Leanne Hutchison

Physiotherapy Award
Adam Bentley

Sharing the Newtown story - Publicity & communication

Photographers' Award
Gary Sutherland
Jason McCawley
Mike Biboudis

Social Media Award (Twitter)
Glen Dwyer

Social Media Award (Facebook)
Jeffrey Gabriel

Web Mistress Award
Susan Harkus