Jets

KOE NSW Cup Round 16

FRANK HYDE SHIELD

Sunday 22nd June 2025

3pm

 NORTH SYDNEY OVAL

Norths 2024 220
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.

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v North Sydney Bears (Frank Hyde Shield) Sun 22nd June 2025

Dick Poole, the captain-coach of the undefeated Australian Rugby League World Cup team in 1957, is chaired from the SCG by Australian team-mates (from left to right): Kel O'Shea, Brian Clay, Norm Provan and Ken McCaffery. (NSWRL Media).

Farewell to the great Dick Poole

Jets backrower Blake Hosking powers through the Warriors defence to score in the first half on Saturday.  Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

The Jets narrowly beaten in hard-fought tussle with the top of the table Warriors

The Newtown Jets might have been off their game on Saturday, but they still retained the Tom Raudonikis Cup for 2025 by virtue of their better points for and against over the two games played against Western Suburbs this season. Glen Warner from the Australian Mutual Bank (one of the Newtown Jets best sponsors) is holding the trophy. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

Newtown Jets turn on a lacklustre performance in shock loss to Western Suburbs

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v Warriors Sat 7th June, 2025

Newtown second-rower Dylan Coutts (in the middle of the photo) is congratulated by his Jets team-mates after scoring in Saturday night's game against the Sydney Roosters. Coutts scored two tries in his debut appearance in the NSW Cup competition. (Photo: Mario Facchini / mafphotography)

The Jets surge back into winning form with a huge victory against the Sydney Roosters

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.