Jets drop valuable points as the Warriors unleash a late winning surge.
Match Report:
Last Saturday’s match at Henson Park brought together the 2024 NSW Cup premiers, the Newtown Jets, and the 2025 premiers, the New Zealand Warriors.
The Wahs might have lost several players from last year’s premiership-winning squad, but Saturday’s game was still expected to be a thrilling showdown.
Here’s what the remodelled Henson Park looked like at the first NSW Cup home game for the 2026 season.
Light rain and steely grey skies minimised the crowd, a disappointing outcome as this was the first NSW Cup competition game to be played at the extensively upgraded Henson Park.
The Jets were hit with injuries in the first half, with 2024 Grand Final hero Braden Uele ruled out by a head impact injury in the 8th minute, while strike centre Michael Gabrael was assisted off with a leg injury just prior to halftime.
Newtown’s quicksilver centre Michael Gabrael on his way to scoring a try just before half-time.
The Warriors were the first to score through halfback Jett Cleary who converted his own try. Cleary added a penalty goal several minutes later for the Warriors to lead 8-0.
Newtown made good use of an error at the Warriors end of the field and the Jets halfback Riley Pollard cleverly regathered his own grubber kick to score. He converted his own try to narrow the Warriors lead to 8-6.
The play moved from one end of the field to the other, with both sides going close to scoring. The Jets launched an attack up their left side, with speedster centre Michael Gabrael scoring just before halftime, but injuring his leg in the process. Pollard’s conversion gave Newtown a 12-8 lead at halftime.
Newtown’s halfback Riley Pollard grubber-kicked ahead and cleverly regathered the ball to score the Jets first try.
Newtown wasted no time upon the resumption of play, with centre Riley Jones scoring near the north-east corner just three minutes into the second half. Pollard’s conversion from wide output Newtown into a strong position with an 18-8 lead.
The Warriors responded with a try close to the posts, preceded by some strong running by their big forwards making inroads through Newtown’s midfield defence. The second half was a full-blooded contest with both sets of forwards running with determination and throwing themselves into their defensive workloads.
Newtown Jets winger Cathane Hill takes “a high one” from a Warriors opponent.
A superbly-executed ball movement through several pairs of hands, involving Jayden Berrell, Riley Pollard, Chris Vea’ila and Cathane Hill, saw the latter player score the best try of the afternoon, in what was a marvellous exhibition of ball-play that had the crowd roaring their approval. Pollard’s soaring conversion from the sideline might well have placed Newtown in a winning position, leading by 24-14 with just on twenty minutes left to play.
Errors and penalties put the Jets under pressure at their own end, with the Warriors ultimately scoring a vital try near the posts through a display of determined strength and energy. The conversion attempt was successful, and the Warriors now trailed by 24-20 with just on eight minutes left to play.
Penrith Panthers identities Ivan and Nathan Cleary and their family members were on hand to see young Jett Cleary playing for the New Zealand Warriors.
This game was clearly set for a tense finish, and just as the Jets mounted an attacking sortie inside the Warriors half, an “all or nothing” intercept by the Warriors captain saw the big centre sprint seventy metres to score near the southern end goal-posts. Jett Cleary was successful with the pressure kick and the Warriors held on to win 26-24, with Newtown desperately trying to regain possession in the dying minutes. It was a disappointing outcome for the Jets, playing in front of their home crowd and being seemingly well-placed to ensure victory midway through the second half.
Hard-grafting middle forward Brad Fearnley won the Built Smart Solutions best and fairest player award, while clever backrower Blake Hosking topped the tackle count with 38.
Brad Fearnley (in possession) won the Built Smart Solutions best and fairest player award last Saturday.
Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 5
Saturday, 4th April 2026
Henson Park
Newtown v New Zealand Warriors
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
Match Officials:
Referee: Ethan Klein
Touch Judges: Kasey Badger, Mitchell Stone
Standby: Adam Siriani
The remodelled and upgraded Henson Park scoreboard received high praise from hundreds of Jets fans on Saturday.
Match Result:
New Zealand Warriors 26:
Jett Cleary, Braelan Marsh,
Morgan Gannon, Ali Leiataua tries;
Jett Cleary 4 conversions, 1 penalty goal
defeated
Newtown 24:
Riley Pollard, Michael Gabrael,
Riley Jones, Cathane Hill tries;
Riley Pollard 4 conversions.
Half-Time: Newtown led 12-8.
Last Sunday’s teams were:
Newtown:
Fullback: Cathane Hill
Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Chris Vea’ila
Centres: Michael Gabrael, Riley Jones
Halves: Taj Ford, Riley Pollard
Lock: Braden Uele
Second-Rowers: Jaxon Lavender, Blake Hosking
Front-Rowers: Peter Taateo, Tuku Hau Tapuha
Hooker: Jayden Berrell (Captain)
Interchange:
Brad Fearnley, Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa
Felix Faatili, Kobie Wilson
Reserve: Sam McCulloch
Coach: George Ndaira.
Canberra Raiders:
Fullback: Geronimo Doyle
Wingers: Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Haizyn Mellars
Centres: Ali Leiataua (Captain), Carlys-Paul Putoko
Halves: Luke Hanson, Jett Cleary
Lock: Christian Sikuvea
Second-Rowers: Kayliss Fatialofa, Morgan Gannon
Front-Rowers: Cooper Page-Wilson, Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
Hooker: Jacob Auloa
Interchange:
Braelan marsh, Tepatasi Laumalili
Bishop Neal, Jack Thompson
Reserve: Daeon Amituanai
Coach: David Tangata-Toa.
This 2008 plaque tells the story of Newtown’s first rugby league game at Henson Park on the 11th April 1936, 90 years ago this Saturday!
Team statistics: -
The New Zealand Warriors had the better figures in these categories: -
Possession; completions; more runs made;
More metres run; more post-contact metres;
More line breaks; more tackle breaks;
More passes; more kicks; more kick metres;
100% kick defusals; 1 40/20 (which led to a NZW try).
Newtown made more tackles, but also missed more tackles.
Each side made 10 errors.
Penalties favoured NZW by 8-5.
Newtown had one HIA assessment (Braden Uele in the 8th minute).
Two capable young Jets forwards, Sam McCulloch (left) and Felix Faatili, in conference as they head off for the half-time break.
Match Timeline:
First half:
Newtown kicked off, running to the Sydenham Road end.
6th minute: Jett Cleary try and conversion. NZW 6-0.
8th minute: Braden Uele HIA, left the field.
Number 18 Sam McCulloch came onto the interchange bench.
11th minute: Cleary penalty goal. NZW 8-0.
17th minute: Riley Pollard try.
Pollard conversion. NZW 8-6.
34th minute: Michael Gabrael try.
Pollard conversion. Newtown 12-8.
37th minute: Michael Gabrael off the field with a leg injury.
Half-time: Newtown 12-8.
Second half:
Newtown running towards the northern end of the ground.
Two early errors by NZW.
43rd minute: Riley Jones try,
Converted by Pollard from wide out. Newtown 18-8.
51st minute: Braelan Match try.
Converted by Cleary. Newtown 18-14.
56th minute: Cathane Hill try.
Converted from the sideline by Pollard. Newtown 24-14.
70th minute: Morgan Gannon try.
Try converted. Newtown 24-20.
73rd minute: Ali Leiataua 70 metres intercept try.
Converted by Cleary. NZW 26-24.
Late penalties conceded by Newtown in trying to get possession and go on the attack.
Full-time: New Zealand Warriors 26 defeated Newtown 24.