Knights take full advantage of Newtown’s out-of-sorts first half.
Match Report:
The Newtown Jets have a justified reputation for having the biggest supporter base in the NSW Cup competition. Their supporters in 2026 must be mystified at the uneven performances their team has been producing this year.
On Saturday at North Sydney Oval the Jets were well beaten by the Newcastle Knights, who trounced Newtown by 44-22 after leading 28-0 at half-time and by 38-0 after 49 minutes. Saturday’s first half fadeout was all the more mystifying after the Jets had turned on a strong and confident display against South Sydney on the previous Sunday.
Big front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha looks like he means business as he takes the field on Saturday.
The Jets have their third bye for the 2026 season this coming weekend (23rd/24th May) and they then have two home fixtures in a row, versus Manly-Warringah on the 30th May and St George-Illawarra on the 6th June.
Newtown was missing their masterful hooker Jayden Berrell on Saturday, who was on NRL duty with the Cronulla Sharks due to the enforced absence of Blayke Brailey.
The powerfully-built Cronulla prop Oregon Kaufusi made his debut with the Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup match against the Knights. Kaufusi had actually played against Newtown in the 2019 NSW Cup Grand Final, when the Jets defeated Wentworthville 20-15 in extra time.
The Jets skilful lock forward Blake Hosking shows AFL potential as he goes high for the ball at North Sydney Oval on Saturday.
Last Saturday’s dispiriting loss to the Knights was another example of a team behind Newtown on the competition table having a better playing record than the Knights had been given credit for. Newcastle had a better points for and against than Newtown, along with the Jets going into this match with the unusual record of having lost three games to teams in the bottom half of the premiership table – and having won three games against three teams who occupy places in the top four.
Jets winger Chris Vea’ila , pictured here at North Sydney Oval, will be joining the Perth Bears in 2027.
The Knights chased the time clock early in the first half, leading 22-0 after just over twenty minutes had been played. The men from the Hunter region had taken advantage of every opportunity they had inside Newtown’s twenty metre zone, whereas the Jets rarely challenged at Newcastle’s end of the field.
To add to Newtown’s on-field difficulties, the Knights scored two further tries to run up a massive 38-0 lead ten minutes into the second half.
Jets hooker Riley Pollard fires out a pass on Saturday. Usually a five-eighth, Riley played at hooker to replace Jayden Berrell who was on duty with the Cronulla Sharks NRL team against the Bulldogs.
When the Jets finally started to get their attacking game into gear, forwards Felix Faatili and Jaxon Lavender combined effectively to send right-side winger Kristian Dixon over for Newtown’s first try. Just three minutes later, Newtown turned on well-constructed attack down their left side, with fullback Liam Ison and winger Chris Vea’ila combining for the right side centre Riley Jones to score from a kick into the in-goal.
Tries to Chris Vea’ila and Mawene Hiroti in quick succession had the Jets supporters in the crowd wondering where all of this productive attacking play had been in the first half.
Front-rower Oregon Kaufusi made his NSW Cup debut with the Newtown Jets on Saturday. The big Cronulla Sharks middle forward had actually played for Wentworthville against the Jets in the famous 2019 NSW Cup Grand Final.
The BarTV commentator dared to speculate as to whether a comeback for the ages was underway, with the Jets scoring 22 points in 20 minutes, but still needing three more converted tries to seize an improbable victory.
The Knights finally put the contest to rest with a try in the 79th minute, after receiving a penalty in the midfield that took Newcastle deep into Newtown’s territory.
Jaxon Lavender, one of Newtown’s best forwards this season, topped the tackle count on Saturday with 39. The big middle forwards Braden Uele, Brad Fearnley and Felix Faatili had all made good ground through the middle third, on a day when the cause was probably lost by half-time. Winger Kristian Dixon (213) always polls well when the metres run are counted.
Newtown has a bye in Round 12 of the NSW Cup (23rd/24th May) along with five other clubs – Parramatta, Newcastle Knights, Western Suburbs, Penrith and the Sydney Roosters.
Saturday’s match details were:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 11
Saturday, 16th May 2026
North Sydney Ova
Newcastle Knights v Newtown
Kick-Off: 2.00pm.
Weather: 19 degrees, slight breeze, sunny, some clouds
Playing surface: Excellent.
Newtown winger Kristian Dixon races in to score the Jets first try last Saturday.
Match Result:
Newcastle Knights 44:
Matthew Hunter 3, Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana 2,
Kyle McCarthy, Thomas Cant, Lachlan Crouch tries;
Connor Votano 6 conversions
defeated
Newtown 22:
Kristian Dixon, Riley Jones,
Chris Vea’ila, Mawene Hiroti tries;
Niwhai Puru 3 conversions.
Half-Time: Newcastle Knights led 28-0.
Newcastle Knights:
Fullback: Connor Votano
Wingers: Logan Aoake, Asu Kepaoa
Centres: Kyle McCarthy, Toby Winter
Halves: Tyson Gamble, Matthew Hunter
Lock: Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana (Captain)
Second-Rowers: Thomas Cant, Blake Woodford
Front-Rowers: Peter Hola, Lachlan Crouch
Hooker: Jacob Davis
Interchange:
Diesel Hagan, Jacob Taulani
Rory Whitby, Ben Peni
Reserve: Mitch Henderson
Blue Shirt: Daniel Fitzhenry
Yellow Shirt: Simon Webber
Orange Shirt: Steve Lamonde
Team Doctor: DR Chris Lam
Coach: Michael Dobson.
Jets centre Mawene Hiroti powers his way past these Newcastle Knights tacklers to score Newtown’s fourth try.
Match Timeline: -
First Half:
Newtown kicked off to the Fig Tree End of North Sydney Oval.
5th minute: Newcastle Knights (NK) try.
Try converted. NK 6-0
11th minute: NK try
Try not converted. NK 10-0
17th minute: NK try
Try converted. NK 16-0
22nd minute: NK try
Try converted. NK 22-0
33rd minute: NK try
Try converted. NK 28-0
Half-Time: Newcastle Knights led 28-0.
Second Half:
NK kicked off to the northern end of the ground.
43rd minute: Felix Faatili (Newtown) on report (dangerous tackle).
45th minute: NK try.
Try converted. NK 34-0.
48th minute: NK try.
Not converted. NK 38-0.
52nd minute: Kristian Dixon try.
Not converted. NK 38-4
55th minute: Riley Jones try.
Try converted by Niwhai Puru. NK 38-10.
66th minute: Chris Vea’ila try.
Try converted by Niwhai Puru. NK 38-16.
69th minute: Mawene Hiroti try.
Try converted by Niwhai Puru. NK 38-22.
79th minute: NK try.
Try converted. NK 44-22.
Full-Time: Newcastle Knights 44 defeated Newtown 22.
Newtown Jets second-rowrer Jaxon Lavender breaks through the Newcastle Knight left-side defence.
Match Statistics: -
Newtown Player Statistics:
Jaxon Lavender – most tackles: 39
Kristian Dixon – most run metres: 213
Chris Vea’ila – most line breaks: 2
Team Statistics:
Newcastle Knights (NK) 51% possession: Newtown (N) 49%
NK 24m30s time in possession: N 23m50s
NK 87% completions: N 77%
NK 175 runs: N 164
NK 1526 run metres: N 1505
NK 527 post-contact metres: N 519
NK 8 line breaks: N 5
NK 40 tackle breaks: N 18
NK 39.1m average set distance: N 37.6m
NK 143 kick return metres: N 168
NK 3.29s average play the ball speed: N 3.47s
NK 5 off-loads: N 7
NK 217 total passes: N 215
NK 16 dummy passes: N 8
NK 19 kicks: N 16
NK 613 kicking metres: N 396
NK 89% kick defusal: N 575
NK 40/20 nil: N 1
NK 5 bombs: N 4
NK 1 grubber kick: N 2
NK 91.9% effective tackles: N 87.9%
NK 316 tackles made: N 337
NK 18 missed tackles: N 40
NK 6 errors: N 12
NK 4 penalties conceded: N 6
NK 0 on report: N 1
NK 8 interchanges: N 8.