Jets

KOE NSW Cup Round 19

Saturday 12th July 2025

3pm

 HENSON PARK

Manly logo 2025 crop
Newtown’s high-performance back-row forward Tinirau Arona looks to apprehend this Penrith Panthers opponent at Pepper Stadium last Saturday. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography
Newtown’s high-performance back-row forward Tinirau Arona looks to apprehend this Penrith Panthers opponent at Pepper Stadium last Saturday. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography

And now the Jets get down to business ….

The Newtown Jets won their first game in the 2015 NSW Cup, with a solid 24-8 victory against the previously-unbeaten Penrith Panthers at Pepper Stadium on Saturday. The Jets led 8-0 at halftime and only secured this victory in the last eight minutes.

Newtown fielded a team reinforced by plenty of well-credentialled Cronulla NRL squad members, but were up against an in-form and confident Panthers line-up. The match was a full-on contest with the Panthers having a player sent off in the 26th minute. Jets fullback Nathan Gardner was taken from the field after this incident, which led to a considerable reshuffle of the Newtown backline and disruption to the Jets interchange plans. Penrith had another player sin-binned with ten minutes left to play in the second half.

This was an important win for the Jets, with several players showing outstanding form and the Newtown team as a whole displayed great resolution in defence and determination to win. Both teams had high completion rates and possession was shared evenly throughout most of the game. The Panthers had a slight edge in penalties despite finishing the game with eleven players. The match was certainly a good advertisement for the NSW Cup in what is shaping up as a hard-fought and even competition.

Hard-running centre Sami Sauiluma, who was the top try-scorer in the 2014 NSW Cup competition, scored for Newtown in the 8th minute and fellow centre Jack Bird showed class and speed when he scored wide out in the 23rd minute. The Panthers put the Newtown defence under pressure several times in the first half but the Jets defensive line held firm.

The Panthers monopolised possession for several consecutive sets early in the second half and posted their first points with an unconverted try in the 49th minute. Jets centre Jack Bird and winger Jacob Gagan combined well to send halfback Todd Murphy in to score right on the 60th minute mark. The Panthers stayed in the contest when they scored wide out in the 66th minute to trail 12-8. The numbers game eventually told when the Mountain Men lost a second player through a sin-binning with ten minutes remaining, with further tries to the Jets coming through giant prop Saulala Houma and a second try to Sami Sauiluma.

Newtown’s coaching staff rated Tinirau Arona, Tim Robinson and Blake Ayshford as the best of a well-performed forward pack, while Jack Bird and Todd Murphy were the stand-outs in a backline that coped well with several enforced positional changes. The former Brisbane Norths halfback Murphy continues to show top form for the Jets, with two try-assists and a line-break to complement his own try. Coach Greg Matterson said that despite the Panthers being short-handed, this had been a really hard-fought and meritorious win for the Jets. He said all the players could take a lot of positives out of how this game had been played and won, and that there is plenty to build on in the upcoming weeks.

Because of the unfortunate state of Brookvale Oval, the Newtown Jets travel away to Leichhardt Oval next Saturday, 28th March, when they play Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with this fourth round NSW Cup match now rescheduled to kick-off at 5.00pm.

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Sat 12th July, 2025

TT Jets meal wide shot 603 high

TokyoTaco X Newtown Jets Meal – The Ultimate Footy Feast

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v North Sydney Bears Sat 5th July, 2025 (Frank Hyde Shield)

The class of defence that won Newtown this game ....
Sam McCulloch (left), Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa (top) and Josh Cook (below). (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown Jets win one for the ages with a stirring second half performance

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Farrell Rayner Cup) Sun 29th July 2025

A fine image of Bruce Olive in his NSW playing jersey, superimposed over an image of him in a Newtown Bluebags photo.

Vale to Bruce Olive

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

Eclectic 365
Chest

John Singleton Group
Sleeve

PHILTER
Shoulder blades, Brewing

Coverforce
Front of Shorts

VIC on the Park
Back of Shorts

Strive Fitness
Gym

Sports Medicine Institute
Medical Services & Rehabilitation

Henson Park Hotel
Back of Shorts

Arista Technologies
Technology Partner

Newtown Jets respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the Land and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on and that the land area encompassing Henson Park traditionally belonged to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.