Giant Samoan international prop Sam Tagataese breaks through for the Jets against Illawarra on Saturday, with Newtown five-eighth Penani Manumalealii looming up in support. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography
Giant Samoan international prop Sam Tagataese breaks through for the Jets against Illawarra on Saturday, with Newtown five-eighth Penani Manumalealii looming up in support. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography

Illawarra’s second half power surge shuts down the Jets

The Newtown Jets have slipped down the Intrust Super Premiership NSW competition table following their 22-12 loss to Illawarra at WIN Stadium, Wollongong on Saturday. The teams went into the halftime break at 6-all, but the Illawarra team added three tries in the second half and were in control for most of the second forty minutes of play.

The Jets scored their first try in the third minute, but missed scoring opportunities in the rest of the first half that may well have changed the outcome of this match. Illawarra scored a runaway try late in the first half, and then added three more tries in the third quarter of the game. Newtown scored a converted try two minutes out from fulltime, meaning that the two Jets tries had been scored nearly seventy-five minutes apart.

Jets coach Greg Matterson noted after fulltime that while Newtown’s first half defence had been an improvement on the previous weekend, Newtown’s attack in the first half on Saturday had lacked the execution and polish to turn opportunities into tries. Matterson said that Newtown should have gone in at halftime with a strong lead and they paid the price for these missed chances.

Illawarra began the second half with considerable energy, scoring three tries in a fifteen minute spell. Newtown then managed to force Illawarra into several repeat goal-line drop-outs, but these were all in the last twenty minutes. The Jets were guilty of some defensive and disciplinary lapses in the second half that the big Illawarra forward pack fully exploited.

Jets front-rower Kurt Dillon turned on a strong defensive display in the wet conditions and was Newtown’s best forward. Tony “The T-Rex” Williams stood out in the first half but unfortunately was sidelined after halftime through a shoulder injury. Samoan international prop Sam Tagataese put in an improved performance and Jack Williams worked hard in defence.

The Newtown Jets travel to Campbelltown Stadium next Saturday, 25th March, to take on the winless Wests Tigers. Both teams will be desperate to gain competition points in this fourth round ISP NSW fixture, with the match timed to start 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.