Jets narrowly beaten in hard-fought encounter with the North Sydney Bears.

Match Report:

The Newtown Jets missed the chance of moving on up into third place on the NSW Cup competition table when they lost narrowly to North Sydney, by 12 points to 10, in the 18th round NSW Cup match played at North Sydney Oval last Sunday.

The match was played in difficult conditions with steady rain falling for most of the game. While the slippery conditions probably impacted upon the overall spectacle, there still was a reasonable attendance despite the rain, and this match was certainly a suitably tense and nerve-wracking encounter between these long-time NSWRL rivals. Norths’ two-point victory sets the scene for a spine-tingling second leg of the 2026 Frank Hyde Shield series at Henson Park on Saturday, 22nd August.

Kobie Wilson runs out to North Sydney Oval, passing the Norths Legends

Rugby league historians would have been pleased to see the North Sydney Bears wearing their Bradford Northern-look white jerseys with the red and black hoops, bringing back memories of when the flamboyant Welshman Roy Francis coached North Sydney back in 1970.

Norths were first to score, turning on a fine example of close backing up when a midfield break had been made in the 17th minute. The Bears had carried the ball from the other end of the field in just one set of possession, after Newtown had gone very close to scoring.

Tough Newtown middle forward Brad Fearnley is right in the thick of the action.

Newtown hit back just four minutes before half-time with halfback Niwhai Puru making the break and delivering a clever pass to the fast-supporting second-rower Jaxon Lavender who scored. Both of these tries were converted, and this engrossing NSW Cup Match of the Round was tied up at 6-all at the half-time break.

The second half was played with all the intensity of an elimination semi-final, and to Newtown’s regret there were a couple of missed scoring opportunities.

Niwhai Puru, Sam Stonestreet and Mawene Hiroti hassle a frightened Bear

In the 52nd minute Niwhai Puru and Jaxon Lavender combined to send Riley Pollard over to score at the Ken Irvine Scoreboard end, with the attempted conversion smacking hard into the right upright and bouncing away. 

The match statistics show that Newtown had the advantage in most of the key performance indicators, but Norths defence held strong for most of the second half and the Jets made errors at vital moments.

Fifteen minutes out from full-time, the Bears robust middle forwards laid the pathway for a try to be scored next to the southern end goal-posts, and the conversion took the Bears into the lead by 12-10.

Riley Pollard breaks free

The Jets tried mightily in the latter stages of the second half to regain the lead  but the wet conditions, the tough Bears defence and some wayward handling prevented any further scoring. Newtown was well served in the forwards by Brad Fearnley, Felix Faatili, Harrison Hassett, Jaxon Lavender (who made 43 tackles) and Sam McCulloch, while Liam Ison and Riley Pollard were the best of the backs, along with Mawene Hiroti who ran 241 metres with the ball.

Liam Ison strives to evade a would-be Bears tackler.

The Jets are back at home at Henson Park this Sunday, 12th July at 3.00pm. (Please note the change of playing day from Saturday to Sunday!) Newtown’s opponents are the Melbourne Storm, with the result of this match being of enormous importance to the Jets’ finals chances.

There is a curtain-raiser at Henson Park this Sunday, with the NSWRL Sydney Shield match between the Glebe Dirty Reds and Wentworthville kicking off at 12.45pm.

Chris Vea'ila leaps to secure the Steeden

Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 15
Saturday, 13th June 2026
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
New Zealand Warriors v Newtown
Kick-Off: 4.45pm NZST

Weather: 14 degrees, cloudy, sharp breeze
Playing surface: Excellent surface, slightly slippery.

Match Officials:
Referee: Liam Kennedy

Touch Judges: Paki Parkinson, Jack Phegan

Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 18

5th July 2026

North Sydney Oval

North Sydney v Newtown

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

This match was the first leg of the 2026 Frank Hyde Shield series.

The match was livestreamed on BarTV NSWRL.

Match Result:
North Sydney 12:
Ammaron Gudgeon, Phillip Makatoa tries;

Kieran Hayman 2 conversions

defeated

Newtown 10:

Jaxon Lavender, Riley Pollard tries;

Riley Pollard 1 conversion.

Half-Time: 6-all.

The Teams: -

Newtown:

Fullback: Liam Ison

Wingers: Mawene Hiroti, Sam Stonestreet

Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Riley Jones

Halves: Riley Pollard, Niwhai Puru

Lock: Sam McCulloch
Second-Rowers: Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett

Front-Rowers: Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa, Brad Fearnley
Hooker: Kobie Wilson

Interchange:
Kristian Dixon, Felix Faatili

Taj Ford, Joe Nadenic

Reserve: Tevita Taumoepeau

Coach: George Ndaira

North Sydney:

Fullback: Ammaron Gudgeon

Wingers: Ethyn Martin, Tuipulotu Katoa

Centres: Kieran Hayman, Compton Fuatimau

Halves: Harradyn Wilson, Thomas Steadman

Lock: Coby Thomas

Second-Rowers: Matt Stimson, Riley Meyn

Front-Rowers: Phillip Makatoa, TJ Toevai

Hooker: David Tui

Interchange:
Josh Cook, Matthew French

Joshua Finau, Sean Vaivelata
Reserve: Matt Komolafe

Coach: Leon Latulupe

Match Timeline: -
First Half:
North Sydney kicked off towards the Fig Tree (northern) end of the Oval.

16th minute: Ammaron Gudgeon try.

Converted by Kieran Hayman.

North Sydney 6-0.

36th minute: Jaxon Lavender try.

Converted by Riley Pollard.

Newtown, North Sydney 6-all.

39th minute: Niwhai Puru missed field goal attempt.

Half-Time: 6-all.

Second Half:
Newtown kicked off, running to the northern end.

42nd minute: Jaxon Lavender on report for a dangerous tackle.

52nd minute: Riley Pollard try.

Not converted. Newtown led 10-6.

65th minute: Phillip Makatoa try.

Converted by Kieran Hayman.

North Sydney led 12-10.

Full-Time: North Sydney 12 defeated Newtown 10.

Liam Ison and Taj Ford in shared frustration

Match Statistics: -

Newtown player statistics:
Jaxon Lavender: 43 tackles

Mawene Hiroti: 241 run metres

Riley Pollard: 1 line break

Team statistics:
Possession: NS 46%, N 54%

Time in possession: NS 24.18, N 28.16

Completion rate: NS 69% (30/43), N 76%, (32/42.)

All runs: NS 168, N 183

Metres run: NS 1585, N 1737

Post-contact metres: NS 575, N 737

Line breaks: NS 2, N 3

Tackle breaks: NS 26, N 38

Average set distance: NS 36.9, N 41.4

Kick return metres: NS 101, N 108

Av. PTB speed: NS 3.7s, N 3.3s

Offloads: NS 3, N 10

Receipts: NS 344, N 429

Total passes: NS 174, N 235

Kicks: NS 17, N 18

Kick metres: NS 544, N 505

Forced drop outs: NS 3, N 1

Kick defusals: NS 62%, N 89%

Bombs: NS 4, N 6

Grubbers: NS 2, N 2Effective tackles: NS 88.1%, N 91.7%

Tackles made: NS 376, N 330

Missed tackles: NS 38, N 26

Intercepts: NS 1, N 0

Ineffective tackles: NS 13, N 4

Errors: NS 16, N 10

Penalties conceded: NS 4, N 7

Ruck infringements: NS 2, N 3

Inside 10 metres: NS 1, N 0

On report: NS 1, N 1

Interchanges: NS 6, N 8

HIA: NS 1, N 0.

Next match details: -

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

19th Round
Sunday, 12th July 2026
Henson Park
Newtown v Melbourne Storm

Kick-Off: 3.00pm

This match will be livestreamed on BarTV NSWRL.