The Newtown Jets get back into their winning groove.

Match Report:

In the wake of the previous weekend’s lacklustre performance against the Western Suburbs Magpies, the Newtown Jets travelled to Coogee Oval to take on the third-placed South Sydney Rabbitohs.

There was a good number of Newtown supporters at the ground and they would have been pleased to see the Jets return to form, defeating the Rabbitohs by 26-18 in what certainly was a hard-fought match. Newtown led by 20-18 late in the second half and only secured victory with about four minutes left to play.

Newtown halfback Niwhai Puru is in triumphant mode as he races in to score after receiving the ball from Tuku Hau Tapuha (on the left).

Newtown’s top class hooker Jayden Berrell had been a late withdrawal from this Rabbitohs encounter due to the concussion injury suffered by the Cronulla Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey.

The Jets had scored first when second-rower Harrison Hassett out-jumped his Rabbitoh opponents to gather in a kick by Taj Ford to score, following on from a thrilling left-side break by the Jets winger Cathane Hill.

Newtown’s five-eighth Taj Ford scored minutes later, with Niwhai Puru’s two conversions giving the Jets an early 12-0 lead.

Jets five-eighth Taj Ford tryline bound on Sunday, 10th May 2026.

Souths responded in quick time, through two converted tries to tie the scores up at 12-all. The Rabbitohs looked to have the firepower, speed and momentum, but Newtown’s online defence repeatedly proved to be very resilient.

Jets winger Kristian Dixon scored from a Newtown grubber kick that ricocheted off two Rabbitoh defenders for the Royal Blues to take a 16-12 lead into the half-time break.

The Sunday afternoon crowd at a sunny Coogee Oval received their money’s worth with what turned out to be a fiercely-contested second half.

Newtown front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha crashes into the South Sydney defensive line.

Newtown pulled away to a 20-12 lead early in the second half when Cathane Hill raced over to score on the back-end of a clever two-man passing interchange between centre Chris Vea’ila and halfback and captain Niwhai Puru. Puru’s conversion attempt hit the left upright and bounced away, much to the dismay of the Jets faithful.

Souths had the majority of possession in the second half and it took truly committed defence from Newtown to hang onto their eight-point lead. The game was very much in the balance for most of the second half, especially when the Rabbitohs broke through for a converted try just eight minutes before full-time to trail by 20-18.

Jets winger Cathane Hill races in to score I the game against the Rabbitohs at Coogee Oval.

Niwhai Puru, who was Newtown’s best player on the day, combined with the giant, long-striding front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha to score near the southern end posts four minutes before the final siren. Puru’s conversion of his own try took the score out to 26-18 in the Jets’ favour, which remained the score until full-time. The Jets forwards Blake Hosking, Harrison Hassett, Jaxon Lavender, Tuku Hau Tapuha and Braden Uele had all played key roles in this hard-won two competition points, along with Niwhai Puru’s astute stewardship from the scrum-half position and great defensive efforts from the centres Riley Jones and Chris Vea’ila.

The Newtown Jets celebrate at Coogee Oval after a hard-fought victory over long-time rivals, the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Newtown plays the Newcastle Knights at North Sydney Oval on Saturday, 16th May at 2.00pm.

This 11th round match is part of the North Shore’s Beer, Footy and Food Festival, with all six NSW Cup fixtures being played at North Sydney Oval on the weekend.

Saturday’s match details were:
The NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 10
Sunday, 10th May 2026
Coogee Oval
South Sydney v Newtown
Kick-Off: 2.00pm.

Weather: 20 degrees, sunny, very little breeze.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Match Officials, 10th May 2026:
Referee: Kasey Badger
Touch Judges: Brad Kiehne, Charlie Suters
Standby: Liam O’Brien

Jets second-rower Harrison Hassett scores Newtown’s first try in the win against South Sydney at Coogee Oval.

Match Result:

Newtown 26:
Harrison Hassett, Taj Ford, Kristian Dixon,

Cathane Hill, Niwhai Puru tries;

Niwhai Puru 2, Taj Ford conversions

defeated

South Sydney 18:
Jonah Glover, Peter Mamouzelos, Jordi Mazzone tries;

Bayleigh Bentley-Hape 3 conversions.

Half-Time: Newtown led 16-12.

South Sydney:
Fullback: Bayleigh Bentley-Hape

Wingers: Jordi Mazzone, Jay Kirk

Centres: Oliver Lawry, Moala Graham-Taufa

Halves: Jayden Sullivan, Jonah Glover

Lock: Liam Le Blanc

Second-Rowers: Thomas Fletcher, Dan Keir (Captain)
Front-Rowers: Salesi Ataata, John Radel

Hooker: Peter Mamouzelos

Interchange:
Te Wehi Waitere, Ben Williamson

Tim Johannssen, Franklin Pele

Reserve: Max McCarthy

Coach: Wayne Collins.

Illawarra Rugby League First Grade - Harrigan Cup Result:

Dapto 30 defeated Sutherland-Loftus Pirates 20.

The Sutherland-Loftus Pirates are Newtown’s feeder club.

Jets centre Riley Jones has the ball, Kasey Badger is the referee, and from left to right the other Newtown players are Brad Fearnley, Kristian Dixon, Riley Pollard and Harrison Hassett.

Match Timeline: -

First Half:
South Sydney kicked off to the southern end of Coogee Oval.

11th minute: Harrison Hassett try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 6-0.

13th minute: Taj Ford try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 12-0.

17th minute: Liam Ison (Newtown) on report for a hip drop.

21st minute: Jonah Glover try.

Converted by Bayleigh Bentley-Hape.

Newtown 12-6.

25th minute: Peter Mamouzelos try.

Converted by Bayleigh Bentley-Hape

12-all.

34th minute: Kristian Dixon try.

Not converted. Newtown 16-12.

Half-Time: Newtown led 16-12.

Second Half:
Newtown were running to the southern end.

48th minute: Cathane Hill try.

Not converted. Niwhai Puru’s conversion attempt hit the upright.

Newtown 20-12.

72nd minute: Jordi Mazzone try.

Converted by Bayleigh Bentley-Hape.

Newtown 20-18.

75th minute: Niwhai Puru try.

Converted by Taj Ford. Newtown 26-18.

Full-Time: Newtown 26 defeated South Sydney 18.

Match Statistics:
Newtown player statistics: -
Riley Pollard: 35 tackles.

Chris Vea’ila: Most run metres – 135.

Cathane Hill: Most line breaks – 2.

Team statistics:

Souths had 52% of possession;

Souths had a 73% completion rate: Newtown 76%;

Souths 185 runs; Newtown 171;

Souths 1622 metres run: Newtown 1717;

Souths 586 post-contact metres: Newtown 589;

South 2 line-breaks: Newtown 5;

Souths 29 tackle breaks: Newtown 17;

Souths 36 metres average set distance: Newtown 44 metres;

Souths 85 kick return metres: Newtown 152 metres;

Souths 3.53 seconds average PTB speed: Newtown 3.54 seconds

Souths passes offloaded 9: Newtown 10:

Souths 203 total passes: Newtown 208;

Souths 4 dummy passes: Newtown 13;

Souths 19 kicks: Newtown 20;

Souths 472 kicking metres: Newtown 452;

Souths 3 forced drop-outs: Newtown 1;

Souths 50% kick defusals: Newtown 89%;

Souths 6 bombs: Newtown 5;

Souths 4 grubbers: Newtown 6;

Souths 90.7% effective tackles: Newtown 88.6%;

Souths 312 tackles made: Newtown 343;

Souths 17 missed tackles: Newtown 29;

Souths 14 errors: Newtown 14;

Souths conceded 5 penalties: Newtown 8;

Newtown had one player on report;

Souths 8 interchanges: Newtown 7;

Souths 3 HIA: Newtown 1.

On debut Jets hooker Xavier Cacciotti gets his pass away to fullback Liam Ison (on the left).

Next game details:
The NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 11

Saturday, 16th May 2026

North Sydney Oval

Newcastle Knights (7th place) v Newtown (5th place)

Kick-Off: 2.00pm.

North Sydney Oval is hosting all six Round 11 games for the North Shore’s version of the Beer, Footy and Food Festival, which features NSW Cup triple-headers on both Saturday and Sunday.