Jets improved second half effort not enough to overhaul the New Zealand Warriors lead.
Match Report:
The New Zealand Warriors have been represented in the NSW Cup competition since 2007, and the Newtown Jets have usually found the away game in Auckland to be a difficult assignment.
The Jets were defeated by 30-22 in last Saturday’s match, due in part to the Warriors racing away to an 18-0 lead after 12 minutes of the first half.
Newtown scored midway through the first half when second-rower Jaxon Lavender ran a perfect line to split the Warriors defence. In-form halfback Riley Pollard scored Newtown’s second try three minutes before halftime with an elusive run that left several Warriors defenders in his wake. The Wahs had scored a converted try in the 27th minute and they took a handy 24-12 lead into the halftime break.
Riley Pollard gets a kick away with Riley Jones in close support.
The Jets made a much better contest of the second half, outscoring the Warriors by 10-6, with the home team’s only second-half try coming from a fumbled high kick at Newtown’s end of the field. Jets centre Michael Gabrael and interchange player Joe Nadenic scored Newtown’s second-half tries.
Coach George Ndaira was pleased with Newtown’s improved performance in the second half, but he made it clear that there needed to be a “higher level of game smartness” to win the vital games still to be played in the ten remaining competition rounds.
Newtown centre Michael Gabrael strives to break free from this Warriors tackler.
The former Newtown halfback and five-eighth Luke Metcalf captained the Warriors on Saturday and his clever ball distribution and astute kicking game were decisive factors in the Wahs victory.
This Sunday’s game against the Roosters is of great importance, as the Tricolours have a strong record of upset victories against the Jets. This 16th round NSW Cup fixture is set down for Sunday, 21st June, at Allianz Stadium with a 3.45pm kick-off.
Jets fullback and captain Liam Ison in possession, with five-eighth Taj Ford in close support.
Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 15
Saturday, 13th June 2026
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
New Zealand Warriors v Newtown
Kick-Off: 4.45pm NZST
Weather: 14 degrees, cloudy, sharp breeze
Playing surface: Excellent surface, slightly slippery.
Match Officials:
Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judges: Paki Parkinson, Jack Phegan
Newtown interchange hooker Xavier Cacciotti takes the ball forward with winger Kristian Dixon in support.
Match Result: -
New Zealand Warriors 30:
Daeon Amituanai 2, Jye Linnane,
Rocco Berry, Jacob Auloa tries;
Luke Metcalf 5 conversions
defeated
Newtown 22:
Jaxon Lavender, Riley Pollard,
Michael Gabrael, Joe Nadenic tries;
Riley Pollard 3 conversions.
Half-Time: New Zealand Warriors led 24-12.
The teams were: -
Newtown:
Fullback: Liam Ison (Captain)
Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Morgan Harper
Centres: Riley Jones, Michael Gabrael
Halves: Taj Ford, Riley Pollard
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Harrison Hassett, Jaxon Lavender
Front-Rowers: Sam McCulloch, Felix Faatili
Hooker: Kobie Wilson
Interchange:
Brad Fearnley, Joe Nadenic
Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa, Xavier Cacciotti
Reserve: Khaled Rajab.
Coach: George Ndaira.
New Zealand Warriors:
Fullback: Luke Hanson
Wingers: Daeon Amituanai, Sio Kali
Centres: Rocco Berry, Jye Linnane
Halves: Jett Cleary, Luke Metcalf (Captain)
Lock: Jacob Auloa
Second-Rowers: Christian Sikuvea, Connor Bowden
Front-Rowers: Cooper Page-Wilson, Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
Hooker: Amasio Tiatia
Interchange:
Geronimo Doyle, Jason Salalilo
Tyson Hanson, Enosi Ravosai
Reserve: Jeremiah Lemana
Coach: David Tangata-Toa.
Jets hooker Kobie Wilson looks for support, with Brad Fearnley on the ready close by.
Match Timeline: -
First Half:
Newtown kicked off, running to the southern end of Go Media Stadium.
3rd minute: Daeon Amituanai (NZW) try.
Converted by Luke Metcalf. NZW 6-0.
7th minute: Jye Linnane (NZW) try.
Converted by Luke Metcalf. NZW 12-0.
12th minute: Rocco Berry (NZW) try.
Converted by Luke Metcalf. NZW 18-0.
18th minute: Jaxon Lavender (N) try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. NZW 18-6.
22nd minute: Blake Hosking (N) on report for a dangerous tackle.
26th minute: Jacob Auloa (NZW) try.
Luke Metcalf conversion. NZW 24-6.
36th minute: Rocco Berry (NZW): Sin Bin: Professional Foul.
37th minute: Riley Pollard (N) try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. NZW 24-12.
Half-Time: New Zealand Warriors led 24-12.
Second Half:
New Zealand Warriors kicked off.
46th minute: Rocco Berry back on from the Sin Bin.
65th minute: Michael Gabrael (N) try.
Not converted. NZW 24-16.
69th minute: Daeon Amituanai (NZW) try.
Converted by Luke Metcalf. NZW 30-16.
73rd minute: Joe Nadenic (N) try.
Converted by Riley Pollard. NZW 30-22.
Full-Time: New Zealand Warriors 30 defeated Newtown 22.
Match Statistics: -
Newtown player statistics:
Jaxon Lavender: 38 tackles
Kristian Dixon: 155 run metres
Michael Gabrael: 1 line break.
Team statistics:
NZW: 48% possession; N 52%
NZW: 22.30 time in possession: N 24.20
NZW 84% completion rate; N 76%
NZW 149 runs; N 169
NZW 1435 metres run; N 1613
NZW 540 post-contact metres; N 558
NZW 5 line breaks; N 3
NZW 30 tackle breaks; N 38
NZW 36.8 average set distance; N 37.5
NZW 109 kick return metres; N 166
NZW 3.6s average play the ball speed; N 3.5s
NZW 3 offloads; N 7
NZW 172 total passes; N 209
NZW 11 dummy passes; N 19
NZW 20 kicks; N 19
NZW 696 kicking metres; N 418
NZW 1 forced drop-out; N 2
NZW 100% kick defusal; N 43%
NZW 5 bombs; N 7
NZW 2 grubbers; N 5
NZW 86.7% effective tackles; N 89.7%
NZW 319 tackles made; N 304
NZW 38 missed tackles; N 30
NZW 8 errors; N 16
NZW 8 penalties conceded; N 5
NZW 3 ruck infringements; N 1
NZW 0 inside 10 metres; N 2
NZW 0 on report: N 1
NZW 1 sin-sin; N 0
NZW 8 interchanges; N 8.
Next match details: -
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 16
Sunday, 21st June 2026
Allianz Stadium, Moore Park
Sydney Roosters (11th place) v Newtown (5th place)
Kick-Off: 3.45pm.
