Newtown Jets secure a place in the NSW Cup semi-finals with a thrilling victory over long-time rivals, North Sydney.
Match Report:
This was a rugby league match that had everything, with these two NSW Rugby League 1908 foundation clubs turning on a gripping performance.
Consider all this: Newtown needed to stay in the competition’s top five and the North Sydney Bears were in pursuit of the 2026 NSW Cup minor premiership. This 25th round match was going to determine the winners of the coveted Frank Hyde Shield, and it was also the occasion of the annual Newtown Jets Reunion. The late Winter weather was superb, and a big crowd was in attendance at Henson Park
The victorious Jets with Patrick Hyde (sunglasses) and Michael Hyde (holding the t-shirt) and the coveted Frank Hyde Shield, in Newtown’s possession for 2026. (Mario Facchini photo).
This was a game where the Bears pulled away to an eight point lead on two occasions, and each time the Jets had overhauled that points deficit and ultimately ran out winners by 40-30.
Newtown made a spirited start and hooker Jayden Berrell showed he meant business with a slashing midfield dash that nearly ended in a try. In the ninth minute, Berrell steered a grubber kick in behind the Norths defensive line for the ball to be snapped up by centre Michael Gabrael who scored.
Newtown’s top-notch hooker Jayden Berrell about to deliver a second assist via grubber-kick in the second half.
Riley Pollard’s conversion took Newtown to a 6-0 lead but North Sydney scored out wide in the 17th minute and the conversion saw Norths draw level at 6-all.
Jets prop Braden Uele made good ground, then another Berrell grubber kick was picked up by Riley Pollard who scored quite close to the Sydenham Road end goal posts.
Riley Pollard lines up a conversion attempt with the sizable Henson Park crowd in the background.
Pollard’s conversion gave Newtown a 12-6 lead but the Bears made inroads into Jets territory, along with a penalty that put the Red and Black lads on the attack right on Newtown’s tryline. Norths barged over for a try, and the conversion had the scores tied at 12-all.
The Bears kicked a penalty goal four minutes before half-time, and Norths took this 14-12 lead into the break. North Sydney had the better of the second quarter of the match, although the pacey Michael Gabrael went close to scoring just before the half-time whistle.
Jets centre Michael Gabrael about to score Newtown’s first try last Saturday.
The BarTV commentator Morgan Campbell was effusive in his praise of the standard of the football in the first half, and the intensity of a game where so much depended on the outcome.
What a spectacle it was during the half-time break with hundreds of youngsters (and quite a few old-timers) having a kick and running around with their footballs on a pristine Henson Park playing surface.
The big Jets middle forward Brad Fearnley was popular with young autograph-hunters after full-time!
One senior Jets official pointed out to me that Newtown had not won a game all season where the Royal Blues had trailed at half-time. This foreboding observation was followed up by Norths scoring five minutes into the second half, and with the subsequent conversion moving on to a 20-12 lead.
Last Saturday was the Newtown Jets reunion day and the Old Boys refreshments marquee on the hill was well patronised!
Perth Bears-bound Jets winger Chris Vea’ila went desperately close to scoring in the north-western corner but the touch judge ruled he had stepped on the sideline as he evaded the Bears defenders. The community FM radio broadcaster pondered whether that disallowed try might prove to be a pivotal moment of the game.
Newtown’s left-side winger Chris Vea’ila grounds the ball, but he was ruled to have stepped on the sideline several metres back.
The Jets worked their way back to Norths end of the field again, and centre Riley Jones showed strength and determination to crash over to score in the north-east corner. This try wasn’t converted and the Jets now trailed by 20-16.
The big Newtown prop Felix Faatili showed why the Cronulla Sharks had signed him to a NRL contract when he ripped through the middle of the Bears forwards defence, made extended ground and then flicked his pass to Liam Ison, who sent Taj Ford over under the posts. Pollard’s conversion had Newtown back in the lead at 22-20.
Jets tearaway front-rower Felix Faatili wrought havoc in the Bears defensive formation on several occasions.
Newtown failed to gather in the Bears kick-off cleanly, and paid a serious price for that error when the Norths fullback sliced through some hesitant Jets defence. The Bears converted this try and were back in the lead by 26-22.
It’s panic stations for the Bears defence as Taj Ford breaks clear, with Harrison Hassett in support.
The game appeared to be slipping away from the men from the Inner West, losing possession midfield followed by Norths receiving a penalty that took the Bears downfield well into Newtown territory. The strongly-built Norths right-side wingman crossed in the corner, although there was a wild melee amongst the two teams before the referee confirmed the try. The conversion attempt wasn’t successful, but Norths had another eight point lead (30-22) with just on fifteen minutes left to play.
The Jets applied themselves to the task of running down this extended lead, and Taj Ford’s well-placed high kick into the north-west corner was caught by Riley Jones, who outjumped his Norths opponents and scored his second try. Pollard’s conversion was successful and the stage was set for an absorbing finish, with Norths now leading 30-28 in the 68th minute.
Jets centre Riley Jones (in the middle of the photo) is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring in the 51st minute.
The two sides had really risen to the challenge, spurred on by the ideal late Winter playing conditions, the perfect playing surface and the lively presence of the biggest crowd of the season (with the exception of the Beer, Footy & Food Festival).
Norths had a fair rub of the green with the penalties (7-2 their way for the match) and there were plenty of “Bronx cheers” for the referee when Newtown received a midfield penalty in the 72nd minute. With this territorial boost, the Jets went on the attack with great purpose. High-performance hooker Jayden Berrell laid on the perfect grubber kick in behind the Bears defensive line, which sat up ideally for lock Blake Hosking to run onto and score the try which restored the lead to Newtown. Pollard’s conversion took the Jets into the lead by 34-30, with six minutes remaining.
Blake Hosking (number 13) is surrounded by team-mates after his superb try in the 72nd minute of the game.
Good fortune appeared to have deserted the Bears when they knocked on at Newtown’s end of the field, and then they failed with an attempted 40/20 kick in the 78th minute.
The Jets had the football at Norths’ end in the last minute, and the multi-talented Riley Pollard jinked and swerved his way past several tired Bears defenders to score next to the posts. His conversion signed off on a 40-30 victory to the Jets.
Jets halfback Riley Pollard on his way to scoring a sensational try in the last minute of play.
Morgan Campbell on BarTV NSWRL said it all when he commented amidst all the tumult and the shouting following full-time: “These two foundation clubs have just put on a fair dinkum classic - what a sport rugby league football is! This Frank Hyde Shield decider has been the best game of the 2026 NSW Cup season!”
The BarTV viewers poll had voted for Jayden Berrell as being the player of the match. Berrell received the same award from the Newtown Jets player of the match sponsor, Built Smart Solutions.
This interesting group of Newtown Jets diehards opted to have the post-fulltime scoreboard as the backdrop for their Reunion Day photo. (Paddy Byrne photo).
Toby Rudolf, Braden Uele, Felix Faatili and Brad Fearnley, along with Jayden Berrell, were the best of the forwards while Riley Pollard, Taj Ford and Liam Ison led the way amongst a well-performed group of Newtown Jets backs.
The Jets now have the chance to secure third place (and a guaranteed double-chance in the finals) if they beat Parramatta (at the James Hardie Centre of Excellence, Kellyville on Sunday, 30th August at 12 noon), and if the 5th placed New Zealand Warriors defeat the 3rd placed Newcastle Knights over in Auckland on Sunday.
Lifelong Newtown Bluebags and Jets supporter Anthony Hassett took this shot of the Henson Park scoreboard after fulltime last Saturday.
Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 25
Saturday, 22nd August 2026
Henson Park
Newtown versus North Sydney
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
Weather: Light rain had fallen overnight. Grey skies, cloudy, 16 degrees.
Playing surface: Excellent.
The outcome of this game was critical for both Newtown’s pursuit of a place in the competition’s top five and North Sydney’s quest for the NSW Cup Minor Premiership.
Possession of the coveted Frank Hyde Shield, contested annually by these two NSWRL 1908 Foundation Clubs, was on the line.
This was also the Annual Reunion Day for the Newtown RLFC, Australia’s oldest rugby league club, founded on the 8th January 1908.
Match Officials Appointments:
Referee: Dillan Wells
Touch Judges: Isaac El-Hassan, Liam O’Brien
Weather: Sunny, clear skies, 20 degrees. Wind gusts up to 20 km/hr.
Playing surface: Excellent.
One outstanding feature of the day was the pre-match rendition of “Danny Boy” by Michael Hyde, son of the legendary Frank Hyde.
Michael did a splendid job singing this marvellous Irish favourite and he received a huge round of applause from the big Henson Park crowd.
The other special event on Saturday was the dedication ceremony of the Vining Function Room at the King George V Grandstand complex at Henson Park. A large crowd gathered in the function room to pay tribute to the memory of the late Barry Vining, who served as President of the Newtown RLFC for more than thirty years and who was greatly respected and admired in the broader rugby league community. A large number of Mr Vining’s relatives were in attendance for the naming ceremony.
Match Result: -
Newtown 40:
Riley Pollard 2, Riley Jones 2,
Michael Gabrael, Taj Ford, Blake Hosking tries;
Riley Pollard 6 conversions
defeated
North Sydney 30:
Abiarthur Toi Tuilaepa 2, Riley Meyn,
Matt Stimson, Jake Toby tries;
Kieran Hayman 4 conversions, 1 penalty goal.
Half-Time: North Sydney led 14-12.
The teams: -
Newtown’s team was:
Fullback: Liam Ison (Captain)
Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Chris Vea’ila
Centres: Michael Gabrael, Riley Jones
Halves: Taj Ford, Riley Pollard
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett
Front-Rowers: Braden Uele, Toby Rudolf
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Tuku Hau Tapuha, Brad Fearnley
Felix Faatili, Xavier Cacciotti
Reserve: Sam McCulloch
Blue Shirt Trainer: Tom Haberecht
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Brett Kaplan
Orange Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarak
Game Day Doctor: Dr Germane Ong
Head Coach: George Ndaira.
North Sydney’s team:
Fullback: Jake Toby
Wingers: Abiarthur Tuilaepa, Tuipulotu Katoa
Centres: Ammaron Gudgeon, Ethyn Martin
Halves: Kieran Hayman, Harradyn Wilson
Lock: Coby Thomas
Second-Rowers: Matt Stimson, Riley Meyn
Front-Rowers: Phillip Makatoa, Sione Tupouniua
Hooker: Jayden Yates
Interchange:
Joshua Cook, Bayden Moran
Liam Knight, TJ Toevai
Reserve: Sean Vaivelata
Blue Shirt Trainer: Joel Scrivener
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Nathan Townsend
Orange Shirt Trainer: Brent Banning
Game Day Doctor: Dr Edwin Tan
Head Coach: Leon Latulupe.
Giant front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha presents a massive challenge to opposing forward packs.
Match Timeline: -
First Half:
North Sydney kicked off to the northern end of Henson Park.
8th minute: Michael Gabrael try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 6-0.
15th minute: Abiarthur Toi Tuilaepa try.
Converted by Kieran Hayman. 6-all.
21st minute: Riley Pollard try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 12-6.
28th minute: Riley Meyn try.
Converted by Kieran Hayman. 12-all.
36th minute: Penalty goal kicked by Kieran Hayman.
North Sydney 14-12.
Half-Time: North Sydney led 14-12.
Second Half:
Newtown kicked off to the northern end.
45th minute: Matt Stimson try.
Converted by Kieran Hayman. North Sydney 20-12.
51st minute: Riley Jones try.
Not converted. North Sydney 20-16.
54th minute: Taj Ford try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 22-20.
57th minute: Jake Toby try.
Converted by Kieran Hayman. North Sydney 26-22.
62nd minute: Abiarthur Toi Tuilaepa try.
Not converted. North Sydney 30-22.
66th minute: Riley Jones try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. North Sydney 30-28.
72nd minute: Blake Hosking try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 34-30.
79th minute: Riley Pollard try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 40-30.
Full-Time: Newtown 40 defeated North Sydney 30.
With this victory, Newtown retained the greatly-prized Frank Hyde Shield for 2026.
The Newtown Jets with the much sought-after Frank Hyde Shield in their possession for 2026.
Match Statistics: -
Newtown Player Statistics:
Most tackles: Jaxon Lavender – 41 tackles
Most run metres: Liam Ison – 207 metres
Most line breaks: Jayden Berrell – 2
Team Statistics:
Newtown (N); North Sydney (NS)
Possession: N 49%; NS 51%
Time in possession: N 21.16; NS 22.48
Completions: N 77%; NS 83%
Completions: N 24/31; NS 31/37
All runs: N 162; NS 162
All run metres: N 1688; NS 1383
Post-contact metres: N 458; NS 462
Line breaks: N 7; NS 6
Tackle breaks: N 36; NS 31
Average set distance: N 54.46; NS 37.38
Kick return metres: N 125; NS 154
Average PTB speed: N 3.22; NS 3.53
Offloaded passes: N 6; NS 10
Receipts: N 336; NS 362
Total passes: N 173; NS 196
Dummy passes: N 9; NS 4
Kicks: N 18; NS 16
Kicking metres: N 355; NS 422
Forced drop outs: N 1; NS 1
Kick defusals: N 88%; NS 64%
Bombs: N 7; NS 3
Grubbers: N 5; NS 3
Effective tackles: N 85.91%; NS 84.74%
Tackles made: N 311; NS 272
Missed tackles: N 31; NS 36
Ineffective tackles: N 20; NS 13
Errors: N 9; NS 6
Penalties conceded: N 7; NS 2
Inside the 10 metres: N 1; NS 0
On reports: N 1; NS 0
Interchanges: N 8; NS 7.
Match Statistics: -
Newtown’s next game details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 26
Sunday, 30th August 2026
James Hardie Centre of Excellence, Kellyville
Parramatta v Newtown
Kick-Off: 12 noon.