Jets survive a late fightback by the New Zealand Warriors and now take on the North Sydney Bears.
Match Report:
The Newtown Jets have advanced to the Minor Semi-Final stage of the 2026 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition, after defeating the New Zealand Warriors 24-18 in the Elimination Semi-Final played at the St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah last Saturday.
This was a fiercely-contested match, with Newtown forced to defend on their own try-line for extended periods in the first half. The Jets led 6-0 at half-time, but the Warriors had spent more time in Newtown’s territory in the first forty minutes.
Jaxon Lavender (left) and Kristian Dixon show plenty of emotional reaction in last Saturday’s game.
The Jets broke away to a 24-6 lead in the third quarter of the match, but had to withstand a whirlwind finish by the Warriors when the men from Aotearoa looked as if they were going to at least draw level with Newtown in the final minutes.
The Royal Blues fielded a changed team line-up from the recent North Sydney and Parramatta games, with Khaled Rajab coming into halfback and Joe Nadenic into the centres, along with big forwards Braden Uele and Toby Rudolf being on NRL duty with the Cronulla Sharks. Both teams were affected to some degree by the selection requirements of their NRL partners.
Newtown Jets halfback Khaled Rajab looks for support as he carries the ball forward.
Another variable at work on Saturday was the unusually warm Spring temperature, with 31 degrees being registered during the second half which obviously affected both teams. In Newtown’s case, all 8 interchanges had been made with fifteen minutes left to play, so the Jets big forwards were “feeling the pinch” exactly when the Warriors were on the rampage, receiving a run of penalties and repeat sets of possession at Newtown’s end of the field.
The wily Jets hooker Jayden Berrell has drawn in two New Zealand Warriors defenders.
The Jets only try in the first half came from a kick-ahead by Taj Ford which was pursued by Jaxon Lavender into the Wahs in-goal area, where he managed to apply brief downward pressure on the football, (with the in-goal touch judge ruling in Newtown’s favour). It is worth observing that Lavender is one of the top-tackling forwards in the entire NSW Cup competition, along with having scored ten tries this season.
The Jets on-line defence in the first half was really put to the test, with the Warriors forcing three goal-line drop-outs that kept sustained pressure on Newtown.
Newtown Jets five-eighth Taj Ford runs on for the sudden-death semi-final against the Warriors.
Newtown scored early in the second half through Kobie Wilson, Khaled Rajab and Taj Ford combining, with Ford’s slick pass sending Chris Vea’ila racing through a gap to score. The Warriors responded in the 50th minute, taking advantage of hard, direct running and well-executed passes.
Jets centre Chris Vea’ila strides out as he heads for the try-line.
The best try of the game came through fully-committed lead-up work by Sam McCulloch, Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa, Felix Faatili, Harrison Hassett and Chris Vea’ila whose quick hands sent the very much in-form Sam Stonestreet diving over in the south-east corner. Kristian Dixon converted from the side-line and the Jets led 18-6.
The Bar TV commentary team were moved to comment that NRL talent scouts would be kept busy with plenty of players to look at, with a NSW Cup semi-final of this standard.
Hard-working Sam McCulloch takes the ball right into the heart of the Warriors defence.
Big Felix Faatili made what was probably one of the most inspired midfield charges of the season, as he made big metres through the middle with his shorts decidedly at half-mast! Jayden Berrell and Taj Ford combined in the midfield, and Ford’s precision kick towards the right-side corner was snapped up by Kristian Dixon who touched down. Dixon then proceeded to convert his own try from the right-side touch-line, just as he had previously converted Stonestreet’s try from the left-hand side-line.
Big Felix Faatili’s shorts are at half-mast as he makes a tremendous break through the midfield last Saturday.
Morgan Campbell from the Bar TV team described the thrilling lead-up and execution of Kristian Dixon’s try as being rugby league football at its very best.
The Warriors trailed 24-6 but they immediately fought back, catching their own kick-off and launching into total attack. They nearly scored in the north-eastern corner but a forward pass was ruled. Repeat six-agains kept the Warriors in full attack mode, and they put on another converted try in the 75th minute.
Jets winger Kristian Dixon is about to touch down after gathering in a well-placed cross-field kick from Taj Ford.
No doubt Jets supporters were nervously mindful of the Round Five fixture against the Warriors at Henson Park, when the Men from across the Ditch ran down a 24-14 lead in the last ten minutes to win by 26-24.
Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa uses some footwork to evade this Warriors tackler.
The Warriors attacked without fear from their own end of the field and scored a virtual length of the field try, involving only two tackles after Newtown had kicked off. This try, which was vigorously contested by the Jets players, was converted from the sideline and it was absolutely “Game On” at 24-18 with just over three minutes left.
The Jets survived a couple of more scares to hold onto that six-point margin, with the 2024 Premiers eliminating the 2025 Premiers from this year’s title quest.
Jets back-rower Harrison Hassett looks to break through this Warriors defender’s attempted tackle.
Newtown’s best forwards had been Sam McCulloch, Felix Faatili, Brad Fearnley, Jayden Berrell, Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett and Blake Hosking, and the best of the backs had been Liam Ison, Sam Stonestreet, Kristian Dixon (named by Bar TV as being one of the leading post-contact metre runners in the competition), Taj Ford and Khaled Rajab.
The Jets take on long-time foes North Sydney in the Minor Semi-Final at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday, 12th September at 1.00pm. (The North Sydney Bears had lost 26-20 to the Newcastle Knights in last Saturday’s Qualifying Semi-Final).
Match Details: -
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Elimination Semi-Final (4th place v 5th place)
Saturday, 5th September 2026
St George Venues Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah
Newtown (4th place) v New Zealand Warriors (5th place)
Kick-Off: 1.00pm.
Weather: 30 degrees Celsius at kick-off; sunny, cloudless day; slight breeze.
Playing surface: Excellent.
Match Officials:
Referee: Kieren Irons
Touch Judges: Tom Cambourn, Jake Sutherland
In-Goal Judges: Lachlan Greenfield, Joel Pitscheider
Standby: Mitch Currie.
Match Result: -
Newtown 24:
Jaxon Lavender, Chris Vea’ila,
Sam Stonestreet, Kristian Dixon tries;
Kristian Dixon 4 conversions
defeated
New Zealand Warriors 18:
Kayliss Fatialofa 2, Jack Thompson tries;
Cassius Tia 2, Maui Winitana-Patelesio conversions.
Half-Time: Newtown led 6-0.
The two teams were:-
Newtown:
Fullback: Liam Ison (Captain)
Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Sam Stonestreet
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Joe Nadenic
Halves: Taj Ford, Khaled Rajab
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Jaxon Lavender, Harrison Hassett
Front-Rowers: Tuku Hau Tapuha, Brad Fearnley
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Sam McCulloch, Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa
Felix Faatili, Kobie Wilson
Reserve: Tevita Taumoepenu
Blue Shirt Trainer: Tommy Haberecht
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Brett Kaplan
Orange Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarak
Game Day Doctor: Dr Daryl Wong
Coach: George Ndaira
New Zealand Warriors:
Fullback: Geronimo Doyle
Wingers: Brandon Norris, Haizyn Mellars
Centres: Daeon Amituanai, Motu Pasikale
Halves: Luke Hanson, Jack Thompson
Lock: Riley Price
Second-Rowers: Kayliss Fatialofa, Marata Niukore (Captain)
Front-Rowers: Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea, Cooper Page-Wilson
Hooker: Amasio Tiatia
Interchange:
Joseph Ratcliffe, Maui Winitana-Patelesio
Tyson Hanson, Cassius Tia
Reserve: Tepatesi Laumalili
Blue Shirt Trainer: Jordan Papa
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Michael Phipps
Orange Shirt Trainer: Thomas Hatherly
Game Day Doctor: Dr David Abraham
Coach: David Tangata-Toa.
Match Timeline: -
First Half:
Newtown kicked off to the northern end of the Jubilee Stadium.
20th minute: Jaxon Lavender try.
Converted by Kristian Dixon. Newtown 6-0.
Half-Time: Newtown led 6-0.
Second Half:
New Zealand Warriors kicked off to the northern end.
43rd minute: Chris Vea’ila try.
Converted by Kristian Dixon. Newtown 12-0.
49th minute: Kayliss Fatialofa try.
Converted by Maui Winitana-Patelesio. Newtown 12-6.
53rd minute: Sam Stonestreet try.
Converted by Kristian Dixon. Newtown 18-6.
56th minute: Kristian Dixon try.
Kristian Dixon conversion. Newtown 24-6.
73rd minute: Kayliss Fatialofa try.
Converted by Cassius Tia. Newtown 24-12.
75th minute: Jack Thompson try.
Converted by Cassius Tia. Newtown 24-18.
Full-Time: Newtown 24 defeated New Zealand Warriors 18.
Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa is pictured post-match with one of his greatest supporters.
Match Statistics: -
Top performing players:
Harrison Hassett (Newtown): 41 tackles
Liam Ison (Newtown): Most run metres: 219
Chris Vea’ila (Newtown): Most line breaks: 2.
Team Statistics:
Newtown (N); New Zealand Warriors (W)
Possession: N 45%; W 55%
Time in possession: N 24.38; W 28.52
Completion rate: N 71% (28/39); W 78% (33/42)
All runs: N 163; W 193
All run metres: N 1620; W 1707
Post-contact metres: N 549; W 574
Line breaks: N 5; W 7
Tackle breaks: N 42; W 33
Average set distance: N 41.54; W 40.66
Kick return metres: N 140; W 75
Average PTB speed: N 3.63; W 3.37
Offloaded passes: N 4; W 16
Receipts: N 370; W 464
Total passes: N 198; W 254
Dummy passes: N 20; W 8
Kicks: N 16; W 24
Kicking metres: N 311; W 534
Forced drop outs: N 2; W 3
Kick defusal: N 69%; W 85%
Bombs: N 7; W 6
Grubbers: N 2; W 7
Effective tackles: N 86.51%; W 86.74%
Tackles made: N 359; W 314
Missed tackles: N 33; W 42
Ineffective tackles: N 23; W 6Errors: N 16; W 14
Penalties conceded: N 5; W 3
Ruck infringements: N 2; W 2
Inside the 10 metres: N 2; W 1
Interchanges: N 8; W 7.
The powerhouse Jets front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha shakes hands with one of his Warriors opponents after full-time last Saturday.
Newtown’s next match details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Minor Semi-Final
Saturday, 12th September 2026
Leichhardt Oval
Newtown v North Sydney
Kick-Off: 1.00pm.
Tickets for NSWRL Semi-Finals can be purchased at the gate.
You can watch this game live on BarTV NSWRL.