Newtown Jets take the points after having to repel a determined fight-back by the Canberra Raiders.

Match Report:

Grey skies and the likelihood of rain kept some fans away from Henson Park last Saturday, but those who were in attendance saw a most intriguing game.

The visiting Canberra Raiders might have been well down the competition table, but they had scored the most “points for’ in the NSW Cup after 23 rounds. The Raiders had lost their first six games of the season, and then had won 9 and drawn one of their next 12 games.

Jets winger Kristian Dixon (number 2) is hailed by his team-mates after scoring his second try.

Newtown ran up a 30-6 lead in the first half, and then went into the half-time break with that narrowed down to 30-24, and Newtown’s grip on the game was looking very doubtful.

54 points and 9 tries were scored in an amazing first half, followed by a hard-fought, grinding second half in which the Jets outscored the Raiders by 12 points to 6 to ultimately win the game by 42-30.

Newtown centre Taj Ford considers his options as he confronts the Canberra Raiders defence.

Newtown’s victory was only sealed in the 77th minute, when winger Kristian Dixon showed great strength and willpower to get the ball down in the north-eastern corner, despite the presence of several Canberra defenders.

Jets winger Kristian Dixon has plenty of open space in front of him as he scores this first half try for Newtown.

The Jets made another flying start to this match, with winger Chris Vea’ila scoring in the fifth minute. This was followed by his fellow wingman Kristian Dixon scoring unopposed on the right side, after receiving a perfectly-flighted and directed cross-field kick from halfback Niwhai Puru. The Newtown number 7 converted both tries and the Jets led 12-0.

Jets winger Chris Vea’ila races clear to score Newtown’s first try last Saturday.

The Raiders replied with a converted try in the 15th minute, and the ease with which this overlap was created would have been most disconcerting to the Jets coach George Ndaira and his staff.

Newtown appeared to be on course for a runaway victory with three converted tries (the try-scorers being Riley Pollard, Niwhai Puru and Liam Ison) all being piled on within an eight-minute period.

Jets forwards Jayden Berrell, Blake Hosking and Tuku Hau Tapuha deal with this Canberra Raiders player.

The Raiders quickly showed that the Jets didn’t hold a monopoly in the try-scoring stakes. Once the Green Machine gained some territorial domination and a bigger share of possession, they piled on three converted tries (through some alarmingly brittle Jets defence) in the space of nine minutes, putting the Raiders right back into the contest by half-time.

Newtown second-rower Harrison Hassett takes on the Raiders defence.

The second half was most certainly a contrast to the whirlwind first forty minutes. Second-rower Jaxon Lavender scored a great try ten minutes into the second half, but the Raiders struck back in the 57th minute to trail by 36-30.

Newtown second-rower Jaxon Lavender scores a vital try for the Jets in the second half.

The Canberra Raiders had come into this game with some hopes of making the semi-finals, and a win was critical for Newtown to stave off the challenges from the Warriors, Roosters, Bulldogs and Magpies who were all close behind on the points table. Newtown’s defence was much improved in the second half when the Raiders had a bigger share of possession and more favourable field position. Kristian Dixon’s second try three minutes before full-time would have been a great relief to all the Jets supporters.

Jets middle forward Felix Faatili on the rampage, with Jayden Berrell and Liam Ison in the background.

Another memorable feature of this game was the impeccable goal-kicking, with Niwhai Puru converting all seven Jets tries, and Coby Black landing five out of five goal-kicking attempts for the visitors.

Jets halfback Niwhai Puru is poised to either pass or run himself.

Newtown’s final home game for 2026 shapes up as a classic. The Jets need to win to stay clear of the four clubs narrowly behind them on the points table and all in pursuit of a place in the finals. North Sydney travel to Henson Park on top of the NSW Cup points table and determined to secure the minor premiership. The coveted Frank Hyde Shield is up for grabs, with Norths having won the first leg of the series by 12-10 back in round 18 at North Sydney Oval.

This being Newtown’s last home game for this season brings on the Annual Reunion Day, and by all accounts Henson Park’s ebullient ground announcer John Lynch has been working hard on encouraging a big roll-up of Newtown Jets Old Boys for this Saturday.

The BarTV viewers poll voted for Niwhai Puru being their player of the match. The livestream commentary team described the match as being “an enthralling game of rugby league to say the least. Newtown had prevailed in a tough and hard second half in which they scored two tries to the Raiders one, a real contrast to the points deluge in the first half.”

The Built Smart Solutions player of the match for Newtown was Liam Ison, who had defused every high kick sent to him as well as making several thrilling kick-return runs. Five-eighth Riley Pollard put together some impressive match statistics.

Toby Rudolf, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Brad Fearnley and Felix Faatili made some good midfield metres when these were most needed.

Saturday’s match details are: Newtown versus North Sydney at Henson Park on Saturday, 22nd August with a 3.00pm kick-off.

Huge thanks to Gallery of League for this beauty - the legendary lineup from the 1943 NSWRFL Grand Final.

Match Details: -
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 24

Saturday, 15th August 2026

Henson Park

Newtown v Canberra Raiders

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Weather: Light rain had fallen overnight. Grey skies, cloudy, 16 degrees.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Newtown 42:
Kristian Dixon 2, Chris Vea’ila, Riley Pollard,

Niwhai Puru, Liam Ison, Jaxon Lavender tries;

Niwhai Puru 7 conversions

defeated

Canberra Raiders 30:
Sione Finau 2, Chevy Stewart,

Jalen Afamasaga, Jordan Uta tries;

Coby Black 5 conversions.

Half-Time: Newtown led by 30-24.

Referee: Daniel Luttringer

Touch Judges: Lachlan Greenfield, Blake Williams

Reserve: Jake Walsh.

Newtown’s team was:
Fullback: Liam Ison (Captain)
Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Chris Vea’ila

Centres: Riley Jones, Taj Ford

Halves: Riley Pollard, Niwhai Puru

Lock: Blake Hosking

Second-Rowers: Harrison Hassett, Jaxon Lavender

Front-Rowers: Tuku Hau Tapuha, Toby Rudolf

Hooker: Jayden Berrell

Interchange:
Brad Fearnley, Sam McCulloch

Felix Faatili, Khaled Rajab

Reserve: Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa

Blue Shirt: Tom Haberecht

Yellow Shirt: Brett Kaplan

Orange Shirt: Chris Moubarak

Game Day Doctor: Dr Muhaimen Jassim

Head Coach: George Ndaira

Canberra Raiders:

Fullback: Ethan Alaia

Wingers: Utuloa Asomua, Sione Finau

Centres: Kain Anderson, Chevy Stewart

Halves: Jalen Afamasaga, Coby Black

Lock: Malachi Smith

Second-Rowers: Jayze Tuigamala, Jordan Uta

Front-Rowers: Jesse Milin, Sam Hyne
Hooker: Shaun Packer (Captain)

Interchange:
Chaev Kolone, Roman Tuaimau

James Croker, Caleb Garvie

Reserve: Luke Cannon

Blue Shirt: Glen Turner

Yellow Shirt: Jarrod Free

Orange Shirt: Claire Nicholls

Game Day Doctor: Dr Chris Lam

Head Coach: Chris Lewis.

Newtown’s team captain and fullback Liam Ison and second-rower Harrison Hassett after last Saturday’s game.

Match Timeline:
First Half:
Canberra Raiders kicked off, running to the northern end.

4th minute: Chris Vea’ila try

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 6-0.

7th minute: Kristian Dixon try

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 12-0.

14th minute: Sione Finau try

Converted by Coby Black. Newtown 12-6.

20th minute: Riley Pollard try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 18-6.

23rd minute: Niwhai Puru try

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 24-6.

26th minute: Liam Ison try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 30-6.

30th minute: Chevy Stewart try.

Converted by Coby Black. Newtown 30-12.

35th minute: Sione Finau try.

Converted by Coby Black. Newtown 30-18.

38th minute: Jalen Afamasaga try.

Converted by Coby Black. Newtown 30-24.

Half-Time: Newtown led 30-24.

Second half:
Newtown kicked off towards the Petersham end of the ground.

50th minute: Jaxon Lavender try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 36-24.

56th minute: Jordan Uta try.

Converted by Coby Black. Newtown 36-30.

76th minute: Kristian Dixon try

Converted by Niwhai Puru.

Newtown 42-30.

Full-Time: Newtown 42 defeated Canberra Raiders 30.

Riley Pollard’s image and impressive match statistics as compiled by the NSW Rugby League media unit.

Match Statistics: -

Newtown Player Statistics:

Jayden Berrell: Most Tackles: 29

Kristian Dixon: Most Run Metres: 163

Chris Vea’ila: Most Line Breaks: 2

Team Statistics:
Newtown (N); Canberra Raiders (CR).

Possession: N 48%; CR 52%

Time in possession: N 20.30; CR 21.55

Completion rate: N 78% (26/33); CR 75% (25/33)

All runs: N 142; CR 146

All run metres: N 1361; CR 1295

Post contact metres: N 403; CR 441

Line breaks: N 6; CR 5

Tackle breaks: N 35; CR 37

Average set distance: N 41.25; CR 39.25

Kick return metres: N 156; CR 139

Average PTB speed: N 3.61; CR 3.28

Offloads: N 8; CR 8

Receipts: N 318; CR 344

Total passes: N 177; CR 191

Dummy passes: N 8; CR 4

Kicks: N 15; CR 15

Kicking metres: N 397; CR 369

Kick defusal: N 82%; CR 71%

Bombs: N 6; CR 5

Grubbers: N 1; CR 2

Effective tackles: N 84.36%; CR 84.18%

Tackles made: N 275; CR 266

Missed tackles: N 37; CR 35

Ineffective tackles: N 14; CR 15

Errors: N 7; CR 10

Penalties conceded: N 7; CR 5

Ruck infringements: N 1; CR 0

Inside 10 metres: N 1; CR 0

On report: N 1; CR 1
Interchanges: N 6; CR 8

Head injury assessment: N 0; CR 1.

Harrigan Cup (Illawarra Rugby League):

Newtown’s partnership club, the Sutherland-Loftus Pirates, have continued their winning form with a sensational 40-10 win over the strong Illawarra Western Suburbs team.

Newtown’s next game:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 25

Saturday, 22nd August 2026

Henson Park

Newtown v North Sydney

Kick-Off: 3.00pm

This is Newtown’s final home game for the 2026 season and is the Annual Club Reunion Day.

This match is of critical importance to both the Newtown and North Sydney clubs.

It is also the deciding match for the 2026 Frank Hyde Shield series.