The Jets show how to celebrate their 90th anniversary occasion at Henson Park.
Match Report:
In a game where the fortunes of rugby league football swung wildly in favour of both teams at opposite ends of the match, Newtown won a real thriller against the Sydney Roosters by 33-32, by way of a 79th minute field goal kicked by the Jets halfback Riley Pollard.
The Henson Park crowd went crazy as Pollard’s field goal attempt hit the crossbar and bounced over – with all this happening after Newtown had surrendered a 32-14 lead late in the second half as the Roosters piled on 18 points (three converted tries) in the space of six minutes to draw level at 32-all.
Jets winger Nikora Williams (number 5) is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring a try on debut in the NSW Cup competition.
(Nikora’s father Jason played 156 first grade games with several clubs in the NSWRL and UK competitions, as well as 12 Tests for New Zealand.)
The autumn weather was perfect at Henson Park on Saturday, with this game being played 90 years to the exact day that a first grade rugby league match (Newtown v University) had been first played at this storied venue. This was a match that the Newtown Jets approached with caution, especially following their thoroughly disappointing 26-24 defeat by the New Zealand Warriors in the previous week’s game.
The Jets fielded a rebuilt team lineup, what with several players on the injured list and others on NRL call-up duty with the Cronulla Sharks on the other side of the continent.
Newtown centre Chris Vea’ila wraps up this Roosters ball-carrier and forces him to lose the football.
And what a start was made by this reassembled Jets team, scoring their first try in the third minute through the on-debut NSW Cup winger Nikora Williams, after receiving a superb cut-out pass from Jets five-eighth Taj Ford. This try was quickly followed up by two absolute sizzlers from fullback Cathane Hill, who had backed up clever play by hooker Hohepa Puru for his first try, followed by crisp midfield ball handling by Puru and Pollard to send Hill racing in for his second four-pointer.
Riley Pollard converted all three tries for Newtown to have run up an amazing 18-0 lead after only ten minutes.
Once the Roosters started to get their share of possession and having made some favourable field position, they responded with an unconverted try in the 19th minute. This try was followed by a run of penalties to the Tricolours as well as four consecutive sets of possession at Newtown’s end, through which the Roosters added another unconverted try in the 23rd minute to trail by 18-8.
The momentum of the game swung back to the Jets closer to half-time, when second-rower Harrison Hassett scored a smartly-taken try on the end of a well-placed grubber kick in behind the Roosters defensive line. This try wasn’t converted and Newtown went into the half-time break with a useful 22-8 lead.
Newtown backrower Harrison Hassett shows great determination as he takes the ball forward against the Sydney Roosters.
The Jets made a strong start to the second half when the big, mobile prop Felix Faatili battered and swerved his way past several Roosters defenders to score near the posts at the Sydenham Road end. Pollard’s conversion had the Jets well-positioned with their 28-8 lead.
The Roosters had run down a big first half lead in the match against Newtown at Henson Park in 2025, and they showed in this match that they had try-scoring potential if they could get repeat sets at the Jets end of the field.. Once again, the men from where the Sun rises struck again, pulling back with a converted try to now trail by 28-14, with plenty of time on the clock.
Newtown middle forward Felix Faatili shows great footwork as he takes on these Roosters defenders.
The Jets team captain Brad Fearnley had a try disallowed midway through the second half. Given field possession courtesy of an error at the Roosters end, the impressive second-rower Jaxon Lavender dived onto a kick into the Roosters in-goal, extending to Newtown what seemed to be a match-winning 32-14 lead, with just on 13 minutes left to play.
Then came the Roosters blitzkrieg of 18 points, mirroring the Jets performance early in the first half. Three converted tries were piled on in the space of six minutes, drawing level at 32-all with six minutes remaining. There was admittedly some perplexingly fragile midfield defence by the Jets that allowed three long-distance tries to be scored with such apparent ease.
Jets halfback Riley Pollard seizes the moment and kicks the match-winning field goal against the Sydney Roosters on Saturday.
This could have been another game that got away for the boys in Royal Blue, but some resolute forward drives and some stiffening up in defence took Newtown well into the Roosters territory. That man Riley Pollard positioned himself midfield to kick the winning field goal, one that descended onto the crossbar and bounced over – and a match-winning point that is certain to be talked about for a long time.
There were several Jets players who stood out at different times of the game. Cathane Hill sprinted superbly when he capitalised on those early try-scoring opportunities. Riley Pollard and Taj Ford were good linkmen, with Ford leaving the field early in the second half with an ankle injury. Hohepa Puru was in top form in the midfield, while the Jets forwards Felix Faatili, Brad Fearnley, Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett and Peter Taateo had the edge in their confrontation with the big Roosters pack.
Newtown Jets fullback Cathane Hill is congratulated by team-mates after scoring the first of his two tries on Saturday.
There were some interesting observations made by media figures at the game. One BarTV commentator said, “people are going to be talking about this amazing game in another 90 years!” Another commentator from the Sydney Sports Radio (HHH FM) team exclaimed at fulltime, “what an atmosphere there is at Henson Park! What a time to be alive!”
In the two curtain-raisers played at Henson Park on Saturday, the Cronulla Sharks Jersey Flegg lads devoured the Sydney Roosters by 52-12, and in the Illawarra Rugby League Harrigan Cup trial match, the Sutherland-Loftus Pirates (Newtown’s partnership club) defeated the Corrimal Cougars by 28-8.
Newtown has a bye in Round 7 of the NSW Cup next weekend, and then plays Canterbury-Bankstown at Henson Park in Round 8.
Lock Blake Hosking was justifiably rated the man of the match and he won the Built Smart Solutions post-match award for his clever ball handling and tough defence. Jaxon Lavender topped the tackle count for the match.
Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup - Round 6
Saturday, 11th April 2026
Henson Park
Newtown v Sydney Roosters
Kick-Off: 3.15pm.
Curtain-Raisers at Henson Park:
11.15am: Jersey Flegg Cup: Cronulla Sharks v Sydney Roosters
1.15pm: Illawarra Rugby League (Harrigan Cup First Grade) trial match:
Sutherland-Loftus Pirates v Corrimal
Weather: Clear, sunny skies; 22 degrees; slight breeze.
NSW Cup Match Officials:
Referee: Dillan Wells
Touch Judges: Kasey Badger, Luke Saldern
Standby: Salvatore Marigliano.
The Newtown Jets lads belt out their famous victory song after the thrilling 33-32 win against the Sydney Roosters.
Newtown 33:
Cathane Hill 2, Nikora Williams,
Harrison Hassett, Felix Faatili,
Jaxon Lavender tries;
Riley Pollard 4 conversions, 1 field goal
defeated
Sydney Roosters 32:
Owen Flaherty, Tom Rodwell,
Fetalaiga Pauga, Max McCathie,
Reece Foley, Jaxson Allen tries;
Toby Rodwell 4 conversions.
Half-Time: Newtown 22 led Sydney Roosters 8.
Roosters:
Fullback: Owen Flaherty
Wingers: Fetalaiga Pauga, Tom Rodwell
Centres: Lachlan Dooner, Ben Johnson
Halves: Reece Foley, Toby Rodwell
Lock: Jaxson Rahme
Second-Rowers: Blake Steep, Hayden Barton
Front-Rowers: Taylor Losalu, De La Salle Va’a
Hooker: Jake Elliott.
Interchange:
Jaxon Allen, Kanaan Magele
Aston Warwick, Max McCathie
Reserve: Zac Sarfati
Blue Shirt Trainer: Scott Cullen
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Geoff Cowling
Orange Shirt Trainer: Declan Healy
Doctor: Dr Ray Kim
Coach: Brett Morris.
Jets hooker Kobie Wilson tries to find a way past these Sydney Roosters defenders.
Newtown Player Statistics:
Jaxon Lavender – 34 tackles
Cathane Hill – most run metres – 176 metres.
Cathane Hill – most line break – 1 line break.
Team statistics overall:
Newtown had 55% of possession;
Newtown spent more time in possession;
Newtown’s completion rate was 84%, Roosters 75%
Newtown made more runs with the ball, more metres run and better post-contact metres.
Roosters made more line breaks.
Newtown made more tackle breaks.
The Roosters gained more ground per set than did Newtown.
The Roosters made more line breaks but broke fewer tackles.
Newtown made more metres with kick returns.
Newtown threw more passes than the Roosters.
Newtown made more kicks and made longer kicks;
Newtown had 100% kick defusals and the Roosters 50%:
Each side kicked 2 bombs and Newtown kicked more grubbers;
Newtown made 90% effective tackles and the Roosters 86%.
Newtown made 257 tackles and the Roosters 306;
Newtown missed 24 tackles and the Roosters 38.
The Roosters made 11 errors and Newtown made 6.
The Roosters received 5 penalties to Newtown’s 3.Newtown made 8 interchanges and the Roosters 6.
The Roosters had one head injury assessment.
Newtown’s five-eighth Taj Ford came from the field early in the second half with an ankle injury.
Newtown’s injury list includes: Liam Ison, Michael Gabrael, Khaled Rajab and Niwhai Puru.
Newtown Jets front-rower and captain Brad Fearnley takes the ball up against the Roosters defensive line.
Match Timeline:
First half:
Newtown kicked off running to the northern end of Henson Park.
3rd minute: Nikora Williams try.
Riley Pollard converted from the sideline. Newtown led 6-0.
6th minute: Cathane Hill try.
Riley Pollard conversion. Newtown 12-0.
8th minute: Cathane Hill try.
Riley Pollard conversion. Newtown 18-0.
17th minute: Owen Flaherty try.
Not converted. Newtown 18-4.
24th minute: Tom Rodwell try.
Not converted. Newtown 18-8.
36th minute: Harrison Hassett try.
Not converted. Newtown 22-8.
Half-Time: Newtown led by 22-8.
Second Half:
Sydney Roosters kicked off.
Newtown running to the Sydenham Road end.
46th minute: Felix Faatili try.
Riley Pollard converted. Newtown 28-8.
50th minute: Fetalaiga Pauga try.
Toby Rodwell converted. Newtown 28-14.
65th minute: Felix Faatili try.
Not converted. Newtown 32-14.
69th minute: Max McCathie try.
Toby Rodwell converted. Newtown 32-20.
71st minute: Reece Foley try.
Toby Rodwell converted. Newtown 32-26.
73rd minute: Jaxson Allen try.
Toby Rodwell converted. 32-all.
78min30s: Riley Pollard field goal.
Newtown 33-32.
Full-Time: Newtown 33 defeated Sydney Roosters 32.