From out of the pages of rugby league’s history – the Glebe Dirty Reds players and staff celebrate their crushing 53-16 victory over Wentworthville in the NSWRL Challenge Cup Final played at Henson Park on Sunday. Photo: Supplied by the Glebe RLFC
From out of the pages of rugby league’s history – the Glebe Dirty Reds players and staff celebrate their crushing 53-16 victory over Wentworthville in the NSWRL Challenge Cup Final played at Henson Park on Sunday. Photo: Supplied by the Glebe RLFC

Dirty Reds sweep in on the high tide of history

The NSW Rugby League’s Canterbury Cup competition might have been cancelled for 2020, but rugby league has returned to Newtown’s home ground Henson Park on the past two weekends.

On Saturday, 25th July the Glebe Dirty Reds defeated North Sydney 16-12 at Henson Park in a second round match of the newly-formed NSWRL President’s Cup. This competition is made up of Ron Massey Cup clubs and selected country rugby league teams.

The Glebe Dirty Reds claimed their first rugby league silverware in 93 years when they easily accounted for Wentworthville 53-16, in the final of the NSWRL Challenge Cup played at Henson Park on Sunday, 2nd August. The Challenge Cup is a knockout tournament played between city and country clubs, with the qualifying rounds having been played back in February and March. Last Sunday’s Glebe-Wenty match was also the third round of the President’s Cup.

Sunday’s tearaway victory was a day of high emotion for Glebe supporters whose club has had an extraordinary history. The original Dirty Reds played in the NSWRL first grade competition from 1908 to 1929 when they were controversially expelled from the league. The club was re-established in 2016 and Sunday’s Challenge Cup triumph is the first trophy won by the Dirty Reds since winning the NSWRL third grade premiership title in 1927.

Prominent names in the current Glebe Dirty Reds line-up include former Penrith Panthers halfback Liam Coleman, son of the livewire South Sydney scrum-half Craig Coleman. Glebe’s hooker Jackson Garlick is the son of Sean Garlick, who was a well-performed hooker with both South Sydney and the Sydney Roosters. The team also included a host of Newtown contracted players including Wes Lolo, Addison Demetriou, John Olive, Thomas Hazelton, Matt Stimson, Jonah Ngaronoa & Trent Toelau.

The Dirty Reds play away to the Hills District Bulls at Crestwood Oval (Baulkham Hills) on Sunday, 9th August at 3.00pm.

Newtown's head coach George Ndaira (left) and Head of Football Greg Matterson are pictured with the 2024 NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup premiership trophy. George and Greg are both on deck again as the Newtown Jets head into the 2025 NSW Cup season. 
(Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown’s first NSW Cup trial game for 2025 is against Penrith at Henson Park on Saturday, 8th February at 4.00pm

This photo of the Newtown RLFC players, staff, Directors and sponsors was taken at Henson Park on the day before the final home game for the 2024 season.  (Photo: Mario Facchini)

The Newtown Jets celebrate what was a magnificent year in the history of Australia’s oldest rugby league club

Newtown Jets 2024 Presentation Night Poster

2024 NEWTOWN RLFC NSW CUP PREMIERS PRESENTATION DINNER & AWARDS NIGHT

Newtown's giant front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha gets into stride as he carries the ball forward in Sunday's NRL State Championship Final. Photo: Mario Facchini / mafphotography

Second half errors prove costly as the Newtown Jets lose narrowly in the NRL State Championship Final

Barry Vining of the Jets celebrates after the preliminary final of the NSW Cup finals series game between the Newtown Jets and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney on September 23, 2012. Jets defeated Bulldogs 34-6. (Photo by Jason McCawley)

Vale Barry Noel Vining OAM

Image: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

Newtown Jets Team List v Norths Devils Sun 6th October, 2024 (NRL State Championship)

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

HPH-02

Henson Park Hotel
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

Label Plus
Major Sponsor

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.