Newtown Jets celebrate one of the greatest years in their long history
The Newtown Jets held their Victories Dinner andPresentation Night at the Petersham RSL Club on Tuesday evening, 26thNovember.
A big crowd filled the club auditorium to pay tribute towhat has been a year of extraordinary achievements for the oldest club in rugbyleague.
The Jets won the NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW Grand Final andthe NRL State Championship Final, with both titles being won in the mostfrenzied and thrilling of circumstances.
Special guests included Jo Haylen MP (State Member forSummer Hill), David Trodden (NSW Rugby League CEO) and representatives of theclub’s major sponsoring organisations.
The prize winners on the night included:
Best and Fairest (Brian “Chicka” Moore Shield) – Jaimin(Jimmy) Jolliffe
Fred Daly Memorial Shield – Siosifa Talakai
Coach’s award – Sione Katoa
Leading try-scorer – Will Kennedy – 16 tries
Leading points-scorer – Braydon Trindall – 184 points (9tries, 74 goals)
Best back – Will Kennedy
Newtown RLFC Members’ Player of the Year – BillyMagoulias
Most consistent player – Billy Magoulias
Players’ Player – Scott Sorensen
Special long service award – Matt Evans
Club Person of the Year – Greg Matterson
The latter award bears some elaboration. Mattersoncoached Newtown’s Jim Beam Cup team (now known as the Ron Massey Cupcompetition) in 2005 and 2006. He has been the Newtown club’s head coach since2008, and teams under his tutelage have won second-tier premierships in 2012and 2019; made grand finals in 2008 and 2018; a preliminary final in 2016; andthe semi-finals in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. He has committed to be the Jets’head coach again in 2020, Newtown’s 113th season in rugby leaguefootball.
The NSW Rugby League CEO David Trodden praised theNewtown club for its contribution to the rugby league game over so many years,and he noted the club’s ability to draw large home crowds and to continuallystage innovative home game occasions at Henson Park. He made the observationthat the Newtown club “transcends victory and defeat” and that the club holds aspecial place in our game’s history and folklore.
The Newtown Jets are back in training for the 2020 season(their 21st season since re-entering the second-tier level of rugbyleague football back in 2000). New signings and player movements will beadvised in future news bulletins.