Jets get the better of the Bulldogs in an entertaining night-time encounter at Henson.
Match Report:
The Newtown Jets played their first night game at Henson Park for nearly ten years last Saturday, in defeating Canterbury-Bankstown 25-10 in what was an impressive display.
This night time fixture had come about due to the Cronulla Sharks playing at Townsville on Friday night, and with the spare Sharks players being made available for a 6.00pm kick-off at Henson Park on Saturday evening.
Newtown fielded a strong team which no doubt served as a motivating factor for the Canterbury Bulldogs, who came out firing and dominated possession and territory in the first quarter of the game.
The Newtown Jets lads show their respect to the Fallen on the 25th April 2026.
The full Newtown roll call (from left to right) is as follows:
Sione Katoa, Joe Nadenic, Felix Faatili, Taj Ford, Brad Fearnley, Liam Ison, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Hohepa Puru, Blake Hosking, Jayden Berrell, Riley Jones, Kristian Dixon, Braden Uele, Riley Pollard, Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett, Chris Vea’ila, Niwhai Puru (Captain).
The Jets defended strongly in the first twenty minutes when they had limited time in possession in Canterbury’s half. The Bulldogs scored an unconverted try in the tenth minute and were clearly up for the challenge from the full-strength Jets.
Some clever dummy-half play by Newtown’s hooker Jayden Berrell sent the giant Jets prop Tuku Hau Tapuha crashing over to score next to the southern end goal posts. Berrell then combined with Riley Pollard to send winger Sione Katoa over in the south-west corner just five minutes after the Jets first try.
Team captain and halfback Niwhai Puru converted both tries for Newtown to lead 12-4.
The power and skills duo: Jets hooker Jayden Berrell in possession closely supported by halfback and captain Niwhai Puru.
Sione Katoa nearly claimed a second try just before halftime, but the bouncing ball took an unorthodox wayward bounce and evaded Katoa’s grasp.
The popular fullback Liam Ison made his return to the NSW Cup ranks for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in Round One of the 2025 season. He made one spectacular break in the first half that assured Newtown fans that he was back in business, but he was spelled at halftime as part of his return to rugby league program.
The redoubtable BarTV commentary team were particularly impressed with the performance of both teams in the first forty minutes, and they were of the opinion that it was one of the best halves of NSW Cup rugby league football that they had covered so far this season.
Sione Katoa nearly scored another try early in the second half, but he suffered an ankle injury and had to leave the field.
Newtown winger Sione Katoa looks to find his way past these Bulldogs defenders.
The Bulldogs mounted another strong offensive early in the second half and looked to have scored from a clever kick into Newtown’s in-goal, but the referee ruled that there had been a knock-on in the process of grounding the ball.
A midfield knock-on by a Canterbury player gave Newtown some vital field position and attacking potential. The Jets turned on a superb try-scoring movement in the 59th minute, with Jayden Berrell, Blake Hosking, Niwhai Puru, Riley Pollard and Jaxon Lavender (who unleashed a classy tip-on pass) combining to send Riley Jones over in the north-eastern corner, prior to Jones straightening up and taking the ball much closer to the posts.
Jets five-eighth Riley Pollard has several Newtown team-mates around him as he gets his kick away.
The Dogs fought back hard and spent more time at Newtown’s end of the field, resulting in a converted try in the 70th minute that put Canterbury very much back in the contest. Newtown supporters were justifiably somewhat ill at ease, having seen several game in the past two years snatched away from the Jets in the last ten minutes.
Another key Bulldogs error, this time a kick out on the full, gave Newtown the territorial momentum they needed. In the ensuing set of possession, the splendid Jets backrower Blake Hosking, who had played well throughout the game, made a clean break through the Canterbury defence and was tackled (but not held) just short of the tryline. He flew through the air as he leapt high to score the try that almost certainly put an end to Canterbury’s fightback. Blake Hosking had been put into a yawning gap courtesy of an exquisite pass from Niwhai Puru.
“And with a single bound he was free” … Jets backrower Blake Hosking flies through the air as he scores the try that secured victory for Newtown on Saturday night.
Late in the game big Tuku Hau Tapuha broke into the clear but was called back for what was at the very least a marginal forward pass call. The former Jets fullback Kade Dykes was sent racing for the south-eastern corner on the back of some clever Canterbury ball-play, but he was tackled ball-and-all into touch-in-goal by a magnificent try-saving tackle by the (second half) fullback Taj Ford. Young Taj could well have been drawing on the examples of other famous corner post try-saving tackles from the past by Newtown greats such as John Floyd, Neil Pringle and Johnny Raper.
Niwhai Puru rounded off proceedings for the evening with a well-struck field goal to make Newtown’s full-time winning margin 25-10.
Jets lock forward Hohepa Puru makes a point to his Canterbury-Bankstown opponents on Saturday evening.
There were a number of players who had particularly impressive games – Hohepa Puru, Jayden Berrell, Brad Fearnley, Blake Hosking and Tuku Hau Tapuha in the forwards, in alliance with Niwhai Puru, Riley Pollard, Liam Ison and Taj Ford in the backs, along with a special mention to winger Kristian Dixon, who ran a tremendous 202 metres, very often bringing the ball back from Newtown’s end of the field.
Hohepa Puru takes the Built Smart Solutions player of the match.
The Newtown Jets take on the Western Suburbs Magpies at Henson Park on Saturday, 2nd May at 3.00pm. Wests defeated Newtown narrowly at Henson Park last year and the word is that the Lidcombe Oval men are fiercely determined to win the Tom Raudonikis Cup. This Saturday’s match will in fact decide the winner of the Tom Raudonikis Cup for 2026, as the Jets and the Magpies are only drawn to play each other once this season.
Saturday’s Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 8
Saturday, 25th April 2026
Henson Park
Newtown v Canterbury-Bankstown
Kick-Off: 6.00pm.
This match was livestreamed by BarTV NSWRL
Match Officials:
Referee: Tom Stindl
Touch Judges: Ethan Klein, Brad Kiehne
Standby: Ryan Micallef
Weather: 22 degrees, clear, blue skies.
North-easterly breeze; humidity: 53%
Playing surface: Excellent.
Match Result: -
Newtown 25:
Tuku Hau Tapuha, Sione Katoa,
Riley Jones, Blake Hosking tries;
Niwhai Puru 3 conversions,
Riley Pollard 1 conversion.
Niwhai Puru 1 field goal
defeated
Canterbury-Bankstown 10:
Logan Spinks 2 tries;
Alex Conti 1 conversion.
Half-Time: Newtown led 12-4.
Canterbury-Bankstown:
Fullback: Taye Cochrane
Wingers: Jethro Rinakama, Cooper Toy
Centres: Nick O’Meley, Jed Reardon
Halves: Kade Dykes, Alex Conti
Lock: Alekolasimi Jones
Second-Rowers: Logan Spinks (Captain), Lipoi Hopoi
Front-Rowers: Fletcher Baker, Zyon Maiu’u
Hooker: Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Interchange:
Jack Underhill, Daniel O’Donnell
Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Fahmy Toilalo
Reserve: Justin Matamua
Coach: Jason Taylor.
Match Timeline:
6.00pm kick-off.
First Half:
Canterbury (CB) kicked off, running to the northern end.
10th minute: Logan Spinks try
Not converted. CB 4-0.
26th minute: Great line-break by Liam Ison.
26m40s: Tuku Hau Tapuha crashes over near the southern end goal-posts.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 6-4.
31m30s: Sione Katoa try.
Converted from wide out by Niwhai Puru.
Newtown 12-4.
Half-Time: Newtown led 12-4.
Second half:
Newtown kicked off to the northern end.
Liam Ison was replaced at half-time by Taj Ford.
Ison’s replacement was part of his rehab/return to football program.
47m30s: Jack Underhill (CB) on report.
50th minute: Sione Katoa injured, replaced by Hohepa Puru.
58th minute: Riley Jones try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 18-4.
68th minute: Logan Spinks try.
Converted by Alex Conti. Newtown 18-10.
71m30s: Blake Hosking try
Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 24-10.
77th minute: Kade Dykes tackled into touch-in-goal by Taj Ford.
80th minute: Niwhai Puru field goal.
Full-Time: Newtown 25 defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 10.
Player Statistics:
Hohepa Puru – 42 tackles
Kristian Dixon – 202 most run metres
Sione Katoa – 2 line breaks.
Next game details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 9
Saturday, 2nd May 2026
Henson Park
Newtown v Western Suburbs
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
Livestreamed on BarTV NSWRL
Next Saturday’s match against Western Suburbs is the Tom Raudonikis Cup decider for 2026.
