Jets and Bulldogs draw 12-all in final trial match

Newtown’s Knock-On Effect NSW Cup trial match against Canterbury-Bankstown ended in a 12-all draw. This match was played on Monday afternoon, 28th February, at the Cronulla Sharks Academy Fields, Greenhills Beach.

This was a keenly-contested match and both teams would have benefited from this spirited hit-out. The former Newtown Jets second-rower Phil Gould, now the General Manager of Football with the Canterbury Bulldogs, was in attendance and deemed this to be a really worthwhile trial game.

The match was played in two forty-minute halves and Canterbury scored a converted try in the 21st minute. The Dogs added another converted try in the 36th minute and looked to be taking control of the game.

Newtown narrowed the margin to 12-6 through a well-constructed try to second-rower Reubenn Rennie right on half-time, with this try being converted by fullback Lachy Miller.

Both teams showed resolution in defence in their own halves in the second half, but the Jets broke through to create a try for winger Jonaiah Lualua eight minutes out from full-time. Five-eighth Eli Levido landed a splendid conversion from wide out to tie the scores up at 12-all.

The Newtown coaching staff will now need to decide upon their playing squad for round one of the 2022 NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, when the Jets will host the Canberra Raiders at Henson Park on Saturday, 12th March at 3.00pm.

Newtown’s players on Monday, 28th February were:

Fullback: Lachlan Miller, ex-Australian Rugby 9s representative for the past five years;

Wingers: Zac Cini, ex-Wests Tigers NRL and former Penrith junior; Jonaiah Lualua, ex-Sharks Jersey Flegg and Newtown NSW Cup in 2021 (scored four tries in one match);

Centres: Jensen Taumoepeau, ex-Sharks Jersey Flegg, has played for Newtown since 2019;

Five-Eighth: Angus Ernst, ex-Sharks Jersey Flegg, played for Newtown in 2021;

Half-Back: Rhys Davies, ex-Wentworthville and Parramatta NSW cup

Lock: Tyler Slade, ex-Sharks Jersey Flegg, played for Newtown in 2021;

Second-Rowers: Charbel Tasipale, ex-Parramatta Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup, represented Lebanon in 2019 Rugby League World 9s; Reubenn Rennie, previously with Newtown, more recently with Mounties NSW Cup;

Front-Rowers: Vincent Rennie , ex-Mounties NSW Cup; Kurt Dillon, then with Cronulla Sharks, South Sydney and Parramatta

Hooker: Jayden Berrell, ex-Ipswich and Wynnum-Manly, Queensland Cup Player of the Year in 2021.

Second half interchange players:

Dylan O’Connor: ex-South Sydney NSW Cup, then with Newtown in 2021;

Kade Dykes: ex-Sharks Jersey Flegg, played with Newtown in 2021, son of Adam Dykes (ex-Sharks, Parramatta and Hull FC) and grandson of John Dykes (ex-Roosters, Souths, Cronulla and Penrith);

Jonah Ngaronoa: ex-Sharks Jersey Flegg, has played with Newtown since 2019;

Eli Levido: ex-North Sydney NSW Cup, St George-Illawarra NSW Cup and Parramatta NSW Cup;

Tyla Tamou: well-known and admired by Newtown fans, he has been a utility back with the Jets since 2017;

Reid Alchin: ex-Kurri Kurri, Newcastle Wests, grandson of former Wests Magpies firebrand “Mad Mick” Alchin;

Liam Harris: ex-Penrith juniors, St Marys Ron Massey Cup;

Caleb Uele: ex-Glenora (NZ), Glebe Dirty Reds, brother of Cronulla Sharks prop Braden Hamlin-Uele;

Zac Woolford: ex-Young (Group 9), Canterbury-Bankstown NSW Cup, Newcastle Knights NSW Cup, Newtown NSW Cup since 2020;

Isaac Longmuir: ex-Sharks SG Ball and Jersey Flegg.