A Tough Assignment for the Jets up at the Foot of the Blue Mountains.

The Newtown Jets face a stern test at BlueBet Stadium tomorrow afternoon when they take on the unbeaten Penrith Panthers.

Here’s an indication as to what a rugby league juggernaut the Penrith club has developed into – the Panthers are currently top of the table in all three of the NRL, Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg competitions.

Newtown has an interesting record of staging upsets against the Panthers at their foot of the mountains stronghold. Back in 2002 at Penrith Park, the Jets went in against the Panthers as rank underdogs but won 34-33, with livewire identities such as Wes Patten, Robbie Simpson and Troy Barnes having absolute blinders for Newtown.

On the 9^th August 2019, the 10^th placed Jets were given no chance against the third-placed Penrith on a freezing Friday night at Panthers Stadium. Newtown turned on a stunning 28-18 victory over the Panthers that ultimately took the Jets to an unbeaten run for the remainder of the season, and dual titles in the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW grand final and the NRL State Championship final.

Centre Josh Dugan and lock Tyler Slade will be making their debuts with the Newtown Jets in this match.

The match details and teams for Friday afternoon are:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – 9^th Round

Friday, 7^th May 2021

BlueBet Stadium (Penrith)

Penrith v Newtown

Kick-Off: 3.45pm.

Newtown’s team is (with sponsors’ names in brackets):

Luke Metcalf (Kris Gale), Jonaiah Lualua (Golden Barley Hotel), Josh Dugan (Charles Bailey Urbane Property Inner West), Jensen Taumoepeau (John Cahill & Jennifer Malone), Nene Macdonald (Golden Barley Hotel), Jack A Williams (Adam Whyte), Tyla Tamou (The Daaboul Family), Brock Ilett (Mark Dewar), Zac Woolford (Glen Archibald & Brasco), Daniel Vasquez (Dave Nelson & Steven Helmich), D’Rhys Miller (Manoosh Pizzeria), Bronson Garlick (Nifty Foods), Tyler Slade (Loudon & Vaughan Private Wealth).
Interchange: Kyle Paterson (Wayne Leong & Kim Fuller), Brock Gray (Good Fellows Sports & Socks), Duwanye Mariner (SMI – Sports Medicine Institute), Ethan Natoli (BRI Ferrier & Label Plus), Dylan O’Connor (Busfleet Australia).
Coach: Greg Matterson (Arc Commercial Furniture).

Penrith’s team:
Sunia Turuva, Robert Jennings, Brent Naden, Izack Tago, Taylan May, Jaeman Salmon, Kurt Falls, Lindsay Smith, John Faiumu, Arthur Crichton, Billy Tsikrikas, Mitch Kenny, Jayden Tanner.

Interchange: Brendan Hands, Alec Susino, Eddie Blacker, Thomas Jenkins.

Coach: Peter Wallace.