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 Jets left-edge backrower Kyle Pickering (in possession) about to score at Henson Park on Saturday, 22nd July 2023. Jets fullback Manaia Waitere salutes the crowd after playing a clever role in setting up the try. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown RLFC 2023 Presentation Dinner Details

July 22, 2023 - Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, Kyle Pickering of the Newtown Jets scores his second try of the game during Round 21 of the NSWRL Knock On Effect NSW Cup at Henson Park in Marrickville, New South Wales. (Mario Facchini/mafphotography)

Newtown RLFC 2023 Presentation Night Details

Sunday Sun 603

The Other Premiers of 1943

Brad Fearnley takes the ball up.

Jets cruise past Knights in season finale

Tom Melville in his playing days for Newtown.

Tom Melville RIP

Image: MAF Photography

Newtown Jets Team List v Newcastle Knights Sun 27th August 2023

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

Invisi-Gard
Jersey Minor

John Singleton Group
Sleeve

Schofield King Lawyers
Sleeve

Coverforce
Front of Shorts

The Henson
Back of Shorts

Sydney Park Hotel
Back of Shorts

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.