Newtown won well against the Sea Eagles, but looked vulnerable during the second half.

Match Report:

The Newtown Jets claimed two valuable competition points when they defeated Manly-Warringah by 34-20 at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Jets had some late changes to their announced team line-up, with quicksilver centre Michael Gabrael returning from an extended spell out with injury, and powerhouse forwards Braden Uele and Oregon Kaufusi came into the squad late in the week. Big Oregon, a veteran of nearly 150 NRL games, was in fact making his first appearance with Newtown in a home game at Henson Park.

Big Oregon Kaufusi has made nearly 150 NRL appearances, and he played for Newtown at Henson Park for the first time on Saturday. (Mario Facchini)

Newtown made a quick-fire start, with five-eighth Taj Ford grubber-kicking near the Manly tryline in the third minute; the ball ricocheted off Manly defenders legs, to be snapped up by Newtown’s savvy halfback Riley Pollard to score.

The Sea Eagles responded with a try several minutes later and the on-field tempo and work rate of the Manly team indicated that they had travelled to inner-western Sydney for a genuine contest.

Newtown lost the services of big Braden Uele midway through the first half when he was forced off the field with a knee injury.

Jets five-eighth Taj Ford played a valuable role on Saturday with several try-assists and midfield ball play.

The Jets took a probable strangle-hold on this game by way of a frenetic seven-minute segment of the second quarter. Team captain and will-o’-the-wisp fullback Liam Ison sliced through the Manly defence to score near the northern goal posts, followed by an exhilarating try scored by hooker Kobie Wilson (through a thrilling 50 metre dash from dummy-half), and then strong-running second-rower Jaxon Lavender strode away to touch down after backing up a defence-splitting midfield break by the giant front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha.

The Newtown players headed into the half-time break with the outcome seemingly within their grasp by way of a well-compiled 24-4 lead.

Newtown second-rower Jaxon Lavender sets sail for the tryline and the try that guaranteed the Jets victory on Saturday.

The Henson Park crowd favourite Brad Fearnley scored early in the second half, making use of his great strength and long arms to ground the ball after making a “crash-play” right on the Manly try-line.

Leading by 30-4, it now seemed to be a matter of “by how much” for the Jets, but the Sea Eagles staged a very effective second half resistance. They dominated possession and field position, scoring two tries to trail by 30-14 with twelve minutes left to play. The momentum seemed to be with the Sea Eagles, and no doubt many Jets supporters were unnerved by memories of seeing their team have similar leads run down in the past two seasons.

Henson Park crowd favourite Brad Fearnley puts on a step to break through the Manly-Warringah defence. (Mario Facchini)

A superb 50-metre run by Liam Ison who linked up with Riley Pollard, ended in Jaxon Lavender racing clear to score the try that conclusively locked up the result. Lavender, a former Canberra Raider, has a strong back-rower’s running style that would remind older supporters of the likes of Bob McCarthy and Phil Lowe in the 1970s.

The Sea Eagles scored a converted try in the last minute of the game, and the Jets will need to step up the intensity displayed in this not entirely convincing victory when they take on last year’s beaten grand finalists, St George-Illawarra, at Henson Park next Saturday.

Liam Ison captained Newtown for the first time on Saturday and clocked up some impressive key performance indicator figures as well (Source: NSWRL Media).

The imposing Tuku Hau Tapuha was rewarded for his metre-gaining midfield charges when he received the Built Smart Solutions player of the match award after full-time.

The spine of the Newtown Jets had certainly been decisive in this win over the Sea Eagles, with team captain Liam Ison, Taj Ford, Riley Pollard and Kobie Wilson all displaying top form in last Saturday’s victory. The Jets are now in fifth place at the halfway point of the season, and there are several critical encounters lined up in the remaining competition rounds.

Liam Ison showed he is back to his best form with 254 running metres and two line breaks on Saturday. The skilful Taj Ford also played a valuable role with three try assists.

The Jets take on the Dragons this Saturday, 6th June, at Henson Park for a 3.00pm kick-off.

Jets front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha on the rampage at Henson Park on Saturday. The big fellow won the Built Smart Solutions Man of the Match award for his strong performance. (Mario Facchini)

Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 13
Saturday, 30th May 2026
Henson Park
Newtown v Manly-Warringah
Kick-off was at 3.00pm.

Weather: 19 degrees, sunny, slightly cloudy, minimal breeze.

Playing surface: Very good.

Match Officials:
Referee: Ethan Klein

Touch Judges: Tom Cambourn, John Woods.

Jets winger Kristian Dixon shows the scars of battle in last Saturday’s important win against Manly-Warringah. (Mario Facchini).

Match Result:

Newtown 34:
Jaxon Lavender 2, Riley Pollard, Liam Ison,

Brad Fearnley, Kobie Wilson tries;

Riley Pollard 5 conversions

defeated

Manly-Warringah 20:
4 tries, 2 conversions.

Half-Time: Newtown led 24-4.

The teams were: -
Newtown:
Fullback: Liam Ison (Captain)

Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Chris Vea’ila

Centres: Riley Jones, Michael Gabrael

Halves: Taj Ford, Riley Pollard

Lock: Blake Hosking

Second-Rowers: Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett

Front-Rowers: Braden Uele, Oregon Kaufusi

Hooker: Kobie Wilson

Interchange:
Tuku Hau Tapuha, Brad Fearnley

Xavier Cacciotti, Joe Nadenic

Reserve: Cathane Hill

Blue shirt trainer: Tom Haberecht

Yellow shirt trainer: Brett Kaplan

Orange shirt trainer: Chris Moubarak

Game Day Doctor: Dr Daryl Wong

Coach: George Ndaira.

Manly-Warringah: -
Fullback: Tex Hoy

Wingers: Samuel Loizou, Beau Newlands

Centres: Semisi Kioa, Blake Wilson

Halves: Onitoni Large, Joey Walsh

Lock: Joshua Alhazim

Second-Rowers: Hugo Hart, Aaron Schoupp

Front-Rowers: Paul Bryan, Viliami Fifita

Hooker: Zach Dockar-Clay (Captain)

Interchange:
Kylan Mafoa, D’Jazirhae Pua’avase

Nicholas Bilsborough, Jermayne Cook

Reserve: Billy Thompson

Blue shirt trainer: Brenton Whale

Yellow shirt trainer: Mick Tonello

Orange shirt trainer: Harrison Nicholson

Game Day Doctor: Dr Anna Kropelnicki

Coach: Brett Kimmorley.

Jets centre Mawene Hiroti powers his way past these Newcastle Knights tacklers to score Newtown’s fourth try.

Match Timeline:
First Half:
Newtown was running to the northern end.

Manly-Warringah kicked off.

3rd minute: Riley Pollard try.

Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 6-0.

14th minute: Onitoni Large try.

Not converted. Newtown 6-4.

18th minute: Braden Uele (Newtown) went off with a leg injury.

22nd minute: Liam Ison try.

Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 12-4.

26th minute: Kobie Wilson try.

Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 18-4.

29th minute: Jaxon Lavender try.

Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 24-4.

Half-Time: Newtown led by 24-4.

Second Half:
Newtown was running to the Sydenham Road end and kicked off.

46th minute: Brad Fearnley try.

Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 30-4.

62nd minute: Aaron Schoupp try.

Not converted. Newtown 30-8.

70th minute: Beau Newlands try.

Converted by Tex Hoy. Newtown 30-14.

72nd minute: Jaxon Lavender try.

Not converted. Newtown 34-14.

79th minute: Aaron Schoupp try.

Converted by Tex Hoy. Newtown 34-20.

Full-Time: Newtown 34 defeated Manly-Warringah 20.

Match Statistics: -

Newtown player statistics:
Blake Hosking: 30 tackles;

Liam Ison 254 run metres;

Liam Ison 2 line breaks.

Team Statistics:
(Newtown: N; Manly-Warringah: MW).

Possession: N 52%, MW 48%

Time in possession: N 26.40, MW 24.40

Completion rate: N 77%, MW 75%

All runs: N 195, Mw 168

Run metres: N 1827, MW 1623

Post contact metres: N 624, MW 528

Line breaks: N 6, MW 4

Tackle breaks: N 39, MW 37

Average set distance: N 50.7, MW 39.6

Kick return metres: N 171, MW 128

Average PTB speed: N 3.5, MW 3.6

Offloads: N 10, MW 10

Total passes: N 211, MW 214

Dummy passes: N 6, MW 17

Kicks: N 15, MW 14

Kick metres: N 413, MW 360

Forced drop-outs: N 0, MW 2

Kick defusal: N 70%, MW 71%

Bombs: N 5, MW 6

Grubbers: N 4, MW 3

Effective tackles: N 83.7%, MW 84.5%

Tackles made: N 288, MW 322

Missed tackles: N 37, MW 39

Intercepts: N 0, MW 3

Ineffective tackles: N 19, MW 20

Errors: N 11, MW 12

Penalties conceded: N 6, MW 3

Ruck infringements: N 2, MW 3

Inside 10 metres: N 4, MW 10

On report: N 0, MW 1

Interchanges: N 8, MW 7

HIA: N 0, MW 2

Newtown injuries: Braden Uele, Chris Vea’ila.

Next match details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 14

Saturday, 6th June 2026

Henson Park

Newtown v St George-Illawarra

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

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.