Jets and Bulldogs get ready for grand final rematch
TheNewtown Jets and Canterbury Bulldogs will meet at ANZ Stadium on Sunday in whatwill be the first meeting of the two clubs since last year’s fiercely-contestedIntrust Super Premiership grand final.
Thename of the principal competition sponsor may have changed since 2018, butSunday is another important match for both teams.
The Bulldogs are in third place on the Canterbury Cup NSW competition table and potentially could be top of the table if results go their way.
Andof course all Newtown Jets supporters know that their team is undefeated sincethe seventh round - and accordingly a member of our distinguished club alumni,Jamie Soward, has tipped Newtown to win by two points in his match preview below.
Sunday’s match details:
NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW – 15th Round
Sunday, 30th June 2019
ANZ Stadium
Canterbury-Bankstown (3rd place, 17 points) v Newtown (8thplace, 13 points)
Kick-Off: 1.45pm.
Thismatch is the main curtain-raiser to the Canterbury Bulldogs v Cronulla SharksNRL fixture at ANZ Stadium on Sunday at 4.05pm.
JamieSoward’s preview of Sunday’s match, courtesy of www.nswrl.com.au
“Both these grand finalists were slow to start the year in termsof their consistency, but they’ve really found themselves in a groove over thelast couple of months. The Bulldogs have quality that should be in the NRL, theloss of Lachlan Lewis may impact them, but they are a way better side than Ipredicted this year. The Jets have done very well to get themselves in aposition to make the top 8 this year. Jets by 2.”
Newtown’s team (as per Thursday’s Big League magazine):
Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Matt Evans, AaronGray, Jack A. Williams, Braydon Trindall, Wes Lolo, Billy Magoulias, JaiminJolliffe, Teig Wilton, Siosifa Talakai, Scott Sorensen.
Bench: Josh Carr, Luke Polselli, Tyla Tamou, Craig Garvey, GregEastwood.
Coach: Greg Matterson.
Canterbury-Bankstown:
Toa Mata’Áfa, Christian Crichton, Morgan Harper, Connelly Lemuelu,Jayden Okunbor, Jesse Marschke, Brandon Wakeham, Francis Tualau, Ben Marschke,Renouf To’omaga, Bronson Garlick, Dalton Smith, Kayne Kalache.
Bench: Jack Nelson, Austin Dias, John Olive, Elle El-Zakhem.
Coach: Brad Henderson.
Referee: Darian Furner.
Touch Judges: Tim Hannon and Benjamin Teague.
One serious omission from last week’s list of current and formerNewtown Jets who were playing in the various international rugby league matchesand State of Origin II last weekend - Briton Nikora was overlooked.
Briton of course played most of 2018 with the Newtown Jets, and he has now established himself as a regular member of the Cronulla Sharks 2019 NRL team. Briton made his international debut in the second-row for the New Zealand Kiwis against Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium last Sunday – and judging by his performance he’s going to be wearing that famous black and white jersey for quite a few years to come. His omission from last week’s list was brought to our attention by none other than the eagle-eyed Wayne Leong!