The Jets entertain the Sharks Stadium crowd with an emphatic win over the Rabbitohs

The Newtown Jets scored eight tries in an impressive winning display against South Sydney at the Sharks Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Jets won by 40-10, after leading 20-4 at half-time. Newtown’s performance was improved by the inclusion of backrower and team captain Billy Burns, along with the capable and experienced Mawene Hiroti at fullback.

South Sydney opened the scoring with a runaway intercept try in the seventh minute. Newtown responded quickly with tries to centre Michael Gabrael (playing his second game in the NSW Cup), winger Eli Clark (in his third game for Newtown), lock forward Hohepa Puru (in his third game in the Jets colours), and a second try to the impressive Gabrael almost on half-time.

Newtown’s 20-4 lead at half-time seemed solid enough and Clark extended the Jets lead with another try early in the second half.

One of Newtown’s in-form players so far this season, the big middle forward Brad Fearnley, was placed on report for a high tackle. The Rabbitohs struck back almost immediately with a converted try and even though the Jets led by 26-10, bigger comebacks have been known to happen in the NSW Cup competition.

Jets middle forward Brad "Big Red" Fearnley doing what he does best - repeatedly making plenty of metres right up the centre of the field.  (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Any hopes of a meaningful fightback by the Rabbitohs were put to rest by way of the Jets scoring three tries in the final fifteen minutes, through winger Kristian Dixon, centre Chris Vea’ila and the multi-skilled fullback Mawene Hiroti. Newtown’s more experienced forwards Billy Burns, Brad Fearnley and the always-reliable Jayden Berrell led the Jets dominant display, along with lock forward Hohepa Puru (ex-Penrith and the Canberra Raiders) who combined well with his brother, halfback Niwhai Puru.

The Fox Sports camera man is on hand as Jets winger Kristian Dixon (left) congratulates Chris Vea'ila after the Newtown centre had scored for Newtown in the second half. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown's highly effective hooker forward Jayden Berrell is pictured post-match getting ready for a live interview with the Fox Sports team. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown's dynamic duo, halfback Niwhai Puru (left) and lock forward Hohepa Puru looking to get involved in the rugby league action last Saturday. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

The Newtown halves and centres created the opportunities for tries to be scored out wide, with seven of the Jets tries being scored through the Rabbitohs outside-backs defenders.

Jets winger Kristian Dixon (number 2) has just scored, leaving South Sydney defenders in his wake. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown centre Chris Vea'ila is nailed by two Rabbitoh tacklers, with (from left to right) Riley Pollard, Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa and Jayden Berrell in the background. (Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography)

The powerfully-built Sharks Jersey Flegg team captain Sam McCulloch made his NSW Cup debut for the Jets in the second half on Saturday.

Big Sam McCulloch made his NSW Cup debut with the Newtown Jets at Sharks Stadium - and his family members were there to congratulate him after the game on Saturday. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown’s next match is against the strong Canterbury Bulldogs NSW Cup team, with this fourth-round match being played at Henson Park on Saturday, 29th March at 3.00pm.

Last Saturday’s match details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 3
Saturday, 22nd March 2025

Sharks Stadium, Woolooware
Newtown v South Sydney
Kick-Off: 12.40pm
(The Bumper Farrell-Jack Rayner Cup)

Weather: 25 degrees, mostly sunny, scattered clouds

Playing surface: Excellent

Referee: Damian Brady

Touch Judges: Dillan Wells, Tom Cambourn

Video Clips:

Match Highlights:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2025/03/22/the-knock-on-effect-nsw-cup-highlights--round-three---jets-v-rabbitohs/

NSW Cup competition table after 3 rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=3&season=2025

Newtown Jets coach George Ndaira’s post-match comments:
https://www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc/videos/1361546515260267

Match Result:

Newtown 40:
Michael Gabrael 2, Eli Clark 2,

Hohepa Puru, Kristian Dixon,

Chris Vea’ila, Mawene Hiroti tries;

Mawene Hiroti 3, Niwhai Puru conversions

defeated
South Sydney 10:
Max Lehmann, Daniel O’Donnell tries;
Ashton Ward 1 conversion.

Half-Time: Newtown 20 led South Sydney 4.

The teams: -

Newtown:
Fullback: Mawene Hiroti

Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Eli Clark

Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Michael Gabrael
Halves: Riley Pollard, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Hohepa Puru
Second-Rowers: Billy Burns (Captain), Jordin Leiu
Front-Rowers: Lachlan Crouch, Tevita Taumoepenu

Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Brad Fearnley, Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa,
Joshua Cook, Sam McCulloch

Concussion Substitute: Joshua Latham
Blue shirt trainer: Tom Haberecht
Yellow shirt trainer: Fletcher Graham
Orange shirt trainer: Chris Moubarak

Doctor: Dr Anna Maria Frangos-Young
Coach: George Ndaira.

South Sydney:
Fullback: Terrell Kalo Kalo
Wingers: Carson Kaho, Max Lehmann
Centres: Talanoa Penitani, Fletcher Myers
Halves: Ashton Ward, Lewis Dodd
Lock: Matthew French
Second-Rowers: Nazareth Taua, Thomas Fletcher
Front-Rowers: Salesi Ataata, Tayson Fakaosi

Hooker: Ryan Gray

Interchange:
Daniel O’Donnell, Henry O’’-Kane
Toesami Toevai, Kaylen Miller
Concussion Substitute: Bear Williams
Blue shirt trainer: Jason Peterson
Yellow shirt trainer: Thomas Watkins
Orange shirt trainer: Bernard Chau
Coach: Wayne Collins.

Match Timeline: -

First half:
Newtown kicked off, running north
7th minute: Max Lehmann try
Not converted. South Sydney 4-0
11th minute: Michael Gabrael try
Not converted. 4-all
16th minute: Eli Clark try

Not converted. Newtown 8-4
21st minute: Matt French (South Sydney) on report.
22nd minute: Hohepa Puru try
Converted by Mawene Hiroti Newtown 14-4
39th minute: Michael Gabrael try
Converted by Mawene Hiroti Newtown 20-4
Half-Time: Newtown 20 led South Sydney 4
Second half:
42nd minute: Eli Clark
Converted by Mawene Hiroti. Newtown 26-4

50th minute: Brad Fearnley on report.
51st minute: Daniel O’Donnell try
Converted by Ashton Ward. Newtown 26 v South Sydney 10
65th minute: Kristian Dixon try

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 32-10.
71st minute: Chris Vea’ila try

Not converted. Newtown 36-10
78th minute: Mawene Hiroti try
Not converted. Newtown 40-10.
Fulltime: Newtown 40 defeated South Sydney 10.

Match Statistics: -

Possession: N 59%, SS 41%
Time in possession: N 28.30 , SS 20.15

Completions: N 78% (30/38), SS 67% (21/31)
All attacking runs: N 187, SS 121
All run metres: N 1845, SS 1232
Post contact: N 623, SS 461
Line breaks: N 9, SS 2
Tackle breaks: N 32, SS 17
Average set distance: N 48.5, SS 39.75
Kick return metres: N 250, SS 143
Passes offloaded: N 13, SS 8
Receipts: N 429, SS 266
Total passes: N 234, SS 131

Dummy passes: N 5, SS 19
Kicks: N 21, SS 16
Kick metres: N 531, SS 547
Forced drop outs: N 1, SS 0
Kick defusal: N 67%, SS 64%
Bombs: N 5, SS 3
Grubbers: N 7, SS 3
Effective tackles: N 87%, SS 87.2%
Tackles made: N 251, SS 334
Missed tackles: N 17, SS 32
Intercepts: N 0, SS 1
Ineffective tackles: N 20, SS 17
Errors: N 8, SS 10
Penalties conceded: N 4, SS 4
On report: N 1, SS 1
Interchanges: N 8, SS 8

Most tackles for Newtown: Hohepa Puru – 29
Most run metres for Newtown: Mawene Hiroti – 307

Most line breaks for Newtown: Michael Gabrael – 4.

Next match details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 4
Saturday, 29th March 2025
Henson Park
Newtown v Canterbury-Bankstown
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
This match will be livestreamed on BarTV (Subscription required).