The Newtown Jets make it nine wins in a row and qualify for the 2026 NSW Cup Grand Final.
Match Report:
After looking like they would drop out of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup top five back in mid-July, the Newtown Jets have won nine matches in succession to take their place in this Saturday’s NSW Cup premiership decider against the Penrith Panthers.
Last Saturday’s Preliminary Final against the Newcastle Knights was always going to be a tough assignment, with the Knights having won both times against the Jets in the NSW Cup competition rounds (44-22 and 16-14). The Knights last win over the Jets had been in late July when they battled to a hard-fought 16-14 win at Henson Park, playing in front of the big Beer, Footy and Food Festival crowd.
Newtown Jets hard-running front-rower Braden Uele.
Newtown won Saturday’s Preliminary Final at the St George Venues Jubilee Stadium by 30-14, after leading 12-8 at half-time. The men from the Hunter region had hit back to trail 24-14 with just over ten minutes to play, and they went close to scoring again that would have guaranteed several riveting final minutes to this Grand Final qualifier.
Newtown Jets fullback Taj Ford takes on the Newcastle Knights defence.
The Knights had the better of play early in the match and opened the scoring with a penalty goal in the 6th minute.
The Jets hard-working lock forward Blake Hosking went extremely close to scoring, and then Jayden Berrell sent Braden Uele over to score through a textbook short, flat pass. Kristian Dixon converted for the Jets to lead 6-2 in the 12th minute.
Newtown Jets ball-playing lock forward Blake Hosking
The Jets started to make some good metres through the middle, by way of strong runs from Jayden Berrell, Braden Uele, Tuku Hau Tapuha and Blake Hosking.
After nearly scoring in the 25th minute, the Knights kicked out on the full which gifted Newtown valuable territory. Hosking went close to scoring once again, and then Riley Pollard grubber-kicked into the Knights in-goal for Joe Nadenic to dive on the ball and score. Dixon’s conversion gave Newtown a 12-2 lead.
Newtown centre Joe Nadenic about to ground the ball for the Jets second try.
The Knights returned fire when they took advantage of some sketchy Jets defence out wide, narrowing Newtown’s lead to 12-8.
The Jets were under considerable pressure leading into half-time, and one Knights player was fortunate not to be sin-binned for a dreadful-looking lifting tackle on Riley Pollard.
The Knights had shown in the first half that they had enough attacking capability and tackle-breaking runners to really take this game up to the Jets.
Newtown halfback Riley Pollard tries to brush off this Newcastle Knights defender.
The Novocastrians paid heavily for a possession turnover early in the second half. Jayden Berrell, Blake Hosking, Khaled Rajab and Chris Vea’ila combined to send Sam Stonestreet racing 50 metres to score, beating two frantic cover-defenders on his journey. Dixon converted from wide out to put Newtown in front by 18-8.
Newtown received more forward power from the interchange bench when the likes of Brad “Big Red” Fearnley, Felix Faatili and Sam McCulloch took the field, with players of this calibre being able to “find their front” and to play the ball quickly.
Newtown’s hard-working middle forward Brad Fearnley presents a fearsome prospect for this Knights tackler.
The warm conditions at Kogarah last Saturday (29 degrees) would have affected both sides but the Jets seemed to be getting somewhat the better of this fierce “battle for the middle”.
The Jets put themselves in a strong position when a well-targeted high kick by Riley Pollard was caught by Jaxon Lavender who scored. Dixon’s conversion put Newtown in front by 24-8 near the midway point of the second half.
Newtown’s vocal supporters roared their displeasure when a possible try to Chris Vea’ila was disallowed by referee Luke Saldern.
Newtown Jets second-rower Jaxon Lavender
With their season on the line, the Hunter Region men threw everything into their attacking efforts, and they scored again by taking advantage of some suspect defence on Newtown’s right side. Now trailing by 24-14, another try to the Knights would have ensured a thrilling finish.
The Jets didn’t help their own cause when they lost possession in a favourable field situation, by playing the ball with no dummy-half in position!
Jets hooker Kobie Wilson is surrounded by Newcastle Knights defenders.
Repeat penalties to the Knights at Newtown’s end had the Jets defence fully stretched. Big Braden Uele was placed on report for a high tackle, with the severity of this offence being regarded as doubtful by the BarTV commentary team.
The Jets struck back in the game with Berrell and Pollard combining together, followed by Taj Ford placing a high kick into the north-eastern corner which was caught and grounded by Kristian Dixon. This was the try that definitely sent the Newtown Jets into the 2026 Grand Final. Dixon’s conversion of his own try extended Newtown’s winning margin to 30-14.
Jets winger and goal-kicker (five conversions out of five attempts on Saturday), Kristian Dixon, is interviewed by radio and print journalist Steve Russo.
Newtown has now moved into a premiership decider against an opponent they last played in early March, an outcome of the structure of the NSW Cup draw. For the record, Newtown won that Round Two encounter by 38-16.
Newtown’s halfback Riley Pollard was voted Player of the Match by the BarTV viewers poll. Jaxon Lavender topped the Newtown tackle count with 34, and Sam Stonestreet ran the most metres with 190. Taj Ford made the most line breaks for the Newtown Jets.
Newtown winger Sam Stonestreet pins his ears back as he rockets towards the tryline to score early in the second half.
The officials, players and supporters of the Newtown RLFC express sincere condolences to the family of Bill Kelly who passed away recently. Bill was a very loyal Newtown Jets supporter who was always a popular figure at Henson Park home games. The Newtown Jets players wore black armbands last Saturday at Kogarah as a mark of respect to Bill’s passing.
Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Preliminary Final
Saturday, 19th September 2026
St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Newcastle Knights v Newtown Jets
Kick-Off: 3.15pm.
Weather: Clear skies; sunny, 29 degrees; very little wind.
Playing surface: Excellent.
Match Officials:
Referee: Kieren Irons
Touch Judges: Tom Cambourn, Clayton Wills
In-Goal Judges: Martin Jones, William Greatbatch
Standby: Mitch Currie.
Match Result: -
Newtown Jets 30:
Braden Uele, Joe Nadenic, Sam Stonestreet,
Jaxon Lavender, Kristian Dixon tries;
Kristian Dixon 5 conversions
defeated
Newcastle Knights 14:
Wilson De Courcey 2 tries;
Connor Votano 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal.
Half-Time: Newtown Jets led 12-8.
The teams were: -
Newtown:
Fullback: Taj Ford
Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Sam Stonestreet
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Joe Nadenic
Halves: Khaled Rajab, Riley Pollard
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett
Front-Rowers: Tuku Hau Tapuha, Braden Uele
Hooker: Jayden Berrell (Captain)
Interchange:
Sam McCulloch, Brad Fearnley
Felix Faatili, Kobie Wilson
Reserve: Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa
Coach: George Ndaira
Blue shirt trainer: Tom Haberecht
Yellow shirt trainer: Brett Kaplan
Orange shirt trainer: Chris Moubarak
Team Doctor: Dr Daryl Wong
Team Manager: Jason Pritchard
Newcastle Knights:
Fullback: Connor Votano
Wingers: Melchizedek Nonu, James Schiller
Centres: Wilson DE Courcey, Toby Winter
Halves: Mitch Henderson, Matt Hunter
Lock: Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana
Second-Rowers: Jacob Taulani, Asu Kepaoa
Front-Rowers: Peter Hola, Blake Woodford
Hooker: Diesel Hagan
Interchange:
Brodie Jones, Matt Arthur
Rory Whitby, Curtis Mulheirin
Coach: Michael Dobson
Blue shirt trainer: Daniel Fitzhenry
Yellow shirt trainer: Simon Webler
Orange shirt trainer: Haydyn Baragry
Team Doctor: Dr Ken Lee.
Match Timeline: -
First Half:
Newcastle Knights kicked off to the northern end.
6th minute: Knights penalty goal. Knights 2-0.
12th minute: Braden Uele try.
Converted by Kristian Dixon. Newtown 6-2.
28th minute: Joe Nadenic try.
Converted by Kristian Dixon. Newtown 12-2.
33rd minute: Wilson De Courcey try.
Try converted. Newtown 12-8.
39th minute: Jacob Taulani (Knights) on report.
Half-Time: Newtown led 12-8.
Second Half:
Newtown kicked off to the northern end.
43rd minute: Sam Stonestreet try.
Converted by Kristian Dixon. Newtown 18-8.
54th minute: Jaxon Lavender try.
Converted by Kristian Dixon. Newtown 24-8.
66th minute: Wilson De Courcey try.
Try was converted. Newtown 24-14.
74th minute: Braden Uele (Newtown) on report.
78th minute: Kristian Dixon try.
Converted by Kristian Dixon. Newtown 30-14.
Full-Time: Newtown 30 defeated Newcastle Knights 14.
The injured Jets fullback and captain Liam Ison embraces the Newtown number five Sam Stonestreet.
Match Statistics: -
Best performing players:
Jaxon Lavender (Newtown): Most tackles: 34
Sam Stonestreet (Newtown): Most run metres: 190
Taj Ford (Newtown): Most line breaks: 1.
Team Statistics:
Newcastle Knights (K); Newtown (N)
Possession: K 52%; N 48%
Time in possession: K 26.10, N 24.16
Completion rate: K 73% (30/41); N 75% (30/40)
All runs: K 162, N 166
Metres run: K 1431, N 1550
Post-contact metres: K 571, N 565
Line breaks: K 3, N 4
Tackle breaks: K 44, N 30
Average set distance: K 34.92, N 38.76
Kick return metres: K 98, N 176
Average PTB speed: K 3.27, N 3.29
Offloads: K 14, N 6
Receipts: K 423, N 388
Total passes: K 234, N 206
Dummy passes: K 10, N 1
Kicks: K 18, N 22
Kicking metres: K 521, N 483
Forced drop outs: K 0, N 2
Kick defusal: K 88%, N 67%
Bombs: K 5, N 10
Grubbers: K 2, N 2
Effective tackles: K 89.54%, N 82.94%
Tackles made: K 334, N 316
Missed tackles: K 30, N 44
Ineffective tackles: K 9, N 21
Errors: K 13, N 12
Penalties conceded: K 3, N 10
Ruck infringements: K 2, N 0
Inside 10 metres: K 1, N 1
On reports: K 1, N 1
Interchanges: K 8, N 8.
An outstanding post-match photo of Jets centre Joe Nadenic and his family members.
Grand Final Details: -
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Grand Final
Saturday, 26th September 2026
CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
Penrith v Newtown
Kick-Off: 7.00pm.
The match is being livestreamed by BarTV NSWRL.