Jets shock loss to the Melbourne Storm imperils their place in the top five.

Match Report:

The Newtown Jets narrowly retained their fifth position on the NSW Cup competition table after losing 20-18 to the 13th placed Melbourne Storm at Henson Park last Sunday.

The Jets are now in a precarious position in fifth place, with South Sydney, the Canberra Raiders, Wests Magpies, Sydney Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors all within two points of Newtown.

The Storm were a team not to be taken lightly by any NSW Cup opponents, as the Melbourne club won the 2025 Jersey Flegg (under 21’s) premiership and many of these players are now adjusting to playing in the top level NSWRL competition. They can now lay claim to having beaten the Newtown Jets both at home and away in 2026.

Cronulla Sharks Jersey Flegg forward Manako Piutau made his NSW Cup debut with the Newtown Jets on Sunday.

Newtown had halfback Niwhai Puru back from the Cronulla Sharks NRL squad and the young forward Manako Piutau from the Cronulla Sharks Jersey Flegg team made his NSW Cup debut with the Newtown Jets on Sunday. 

If the Storm lads were going to cause an upset at Henson Park on Sunday they made the right start by scoring two tries in the opening ten minutes to bound away to an early 10-0 lead. Ace hooker Gabriel Satrick scored both tries, the first from a clever display of grubbering ahead and regathering, and the second by darting out from dummy-half and taking advantage of some rather average goal-line defence by the Jets.

Jets five-eighth Riley Pollard in possession with Harrison Hassett in close support.

The first half remained a tightly-contested encounter until Newtown broke through for two tries in the last ten  minutes of the first half. Riley Pollard stepped and swerved cleverly to score after being well positioned by Niwhai Puru and Liam Ison, and then Ison scored a quite brilliant individual try right on the stroke of half-time.

Jets centre Riley Jones about to take on the Storm defence.

Newtown extended their lead to 18-10 early in the second half through a penalty goal by Niwhai Puru – and that was to be the end of the Jets’ scoring for the remainder of the game.

The Storm refused to concede and fought back with two tries, one midway through the second half and another thirteen minutes out from full-time. The conversion that gave Melbourne a two-point lead was landed from a difficult position. 

The Jets had opportunities to pull the result out of the fire, but there just didn’t seem to be the requisite inspirational play that is needed to retrieve victory in what was a hard fought game. Puru had another shot at penalty goal in the 72nd minute from wide out, but his attempt was slightly to the left of the goal posts.

Newtown fullback and captain Liam Ison split the Storm defensive line to score right on half-time.

Liam Ison was outstanding for Newtown and he was a constant threat to the Storm with his evasive kick returns and repeated probing of Melbourne’s backline defence. He actually ran 242 metres with the ball,  which is in the high performance category. The hard-working and reliable Jaxon Lavender made 39 tackles.

Jets five-eighth Taj Ford swings out a pass last Sunday.

Newtown’s attacking trump card Michael Gabrael was sin-binned in the 74th minute and he has since received a one-week suspension, a real blow to the Jets’ hopes for this coming Saturday against the second-placed Newcastle Knights.

The Jets take on the in-form Knights this Saturday, 18th July, at Henson Park at 3.30pm. This critical 20th round NSW Cup match will be the focal point of the 2026 Beer, Footy and Food Festival, now in its 10th year at Henson Park.

Newtown middle forward Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa takes the ball into the thick of the Storm defence.

Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
19th Round
Sunday, 12th July 2026
Henson Park
Newtown v Melbourne Storm
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Weather: Sunny, 19 degrees
Playing surface: Excellent

Match Result:

Melbourne Storm 20:
Gabriel Satrick 2, Liam Williams,

Stanley Huen tries;

Waka Hammond, Dylan Brettle conversions

defeated

Newtown 18:
Michael Gabrael, Riley Pollard,

Liam Ison tries;

Niwhai Puru 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal.

Half-Time: Newtown led 16-10.

The Teams: -

Newtown:
Fullback: Liam Ison (Captain)

Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Chris Vea’ila

Centres: Michael Gabrael, Riley Jones

Halves: Riley Pollard, Niwhai Puru

Lock: Sam McCulloch

Second-Rowers: Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett

Front-Rowers: Brad Fearnley, Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa

Hooker: Kobie Wilson

Interchange:
Taj Ford, Felix Faatili

Joe Nadenic, Manako Piutau

Reserve: Khalid Rajab

Coach: George Ndaira.Coach: George Ndaira

Melbourne Storm:

Fullback: Waka Hammond

Wingers: Blake Kehl, Alize Clarke

Centres: Liam Williams, Mitchell Jennings

Halves: Lockyer-Azile Foliola, Dylan Brettle

Lock: Stanley Huen

Second-Rowers: Angus Hinchey, Shawn Blore

Front-Rowers: K-Cl Newton-Whare, Jak Goulding

Hooker: Gabriel Satrick

Interchange: Jai Bowden, Jerry Musu

Suli Pole, Preston Conn

Reserve: Zayvian Langkilde-Fale

Coach: Mark Russell.

First Half:

Melbourne Storm kicked off to the Sydenham Road end.

2nd minute: Gabriel Satrick try.

Not converted. Storm 4-0.

9th minute: gabriel Satrick try.

Converted by Waka Hammond. Storm 10-0.

13th minute: Michael Gabrael try.

Not converted. Storm 10-4.

26th minute: Kobie Wilson (Newtown) on report for a dangerous tackle.

30th minute: Riley Pollard try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. 10-all.

39th minute: Liam Ison try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 16-10.

Half-Time: Newtown led 16-10.

Second Half:
Newtown kicked off to the southern end.

46th minute: Niwhai Puru penalty goal. Newtown 18-10.

59th minute: Liam Williams try.

Not converted. Newtown 18-14.

65th minute: Manako Piutau on report for a dangerous tackle.

67th minute: Stanley Huen try.

Converted by Dylan Brettle. Storm lead by 20-18.

72nd minute: Niwhai Puru missed with a penalty goal attempt.

74th minute: Michael Gabrael on report and sin-binned.

Full-Time: Melbourne Storm 20 defeated Newtown 18.

The flying Jets centre Michael Gabrael on his way to the try-line.

Match Statistics: -

Player Statistics:
Most tackles: Jason Lavender (Newtown): 38 tackles.

Most run metres: Liam Ison (Newtown): 242 metres.

Most line breaks: Liam Ison (Newown): 1 line break.

Team Statistics: -

Possession: Newtown (N) 53%, Storm (MS) 47%

Time in possession: N 25.30, MS 23.13

Completion rate: N 78% (30/38); MS 77% (28/36)

All runs: N 167, MS 149

All run metres: N 1563, MS 1229

Post-contact metres: N 537, MS 508

Line breaks: N 3, MS 3

Tackle breaks: N 45, MS 27

Average set distance: N 41.14, MS 34.15
Kick return metres: N 207, MS 97

Average play the ball speed: N 3.74s, MS 3.45s

Off-loaded passes: N 6, MS 11

Receipts: N 391, MS 325

Total passes: N 231, MS 166

Dummy passes: N 8, MS 19

Kicks: N 15, MS 18

Kicking metres: N 385, MS 496

Forced drop-outs: N 1, MS 0

Bombs: N 6, MS 3

Grubbers: N 4, MS 3

Effective tackles: N 86.09%, MS 84.57%

Tackles made: N 291, MS 296

Missed tackles: N 27, MS 45
Intercepts: N 0, MS 3

Ineffective tackles: N 20, MS 9

Errors: N 9, MS 10

Penalties conceded: N 7, Ms 8

Ruck infringements: N 0, MS 4

On reports: N 3, MS 3

Sin Bins: N 1, MS 0

Interchanges: N 7, MS 6

Head Injury Assessment: N 0, MS 4.

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

Round 20

Saturday, 18th July 2026

Henson Park

Newtown (5th place) v Newcastle Knights (2nd place)

Kick-Off: 3.30pm.

Curtain-Raisers at Henson Park this Saturday, 18th July:

11.40am: NSWRL Women’s Premiership: Canterbury-Bankstown v Cronulla-Sutherland. 

1.10pm: Illawarra Rugby League – Harrigan Cup (First Grade):
Corrimal v Sutherland-Loftus Pirates.