Jets and Panthers get ready for an absorbing top of table clash

Newtown’s 38-12 win over the Newcastle Knights at the McDonald Jones Stadium yesterday has resulted in the Jets occupying first place on the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup premiership table.

Penrith, the previous competition leaders, lost to the Canberra Raiders on the weekend, thereby allowing the Jets to move up into first position.

This sets the scene for a thrilling top of the table showdown at Henson Park next Saturday, when Newtown will be at home to the Penrith Panthers in Round 15 of the NSW Cup.

Sunday’s game against the Knights was a very willing contest, with Newcastle still very much in the game when they trailed 14-8 early in the second half. Newtown had led 14-4 at halftime after five-eighth Kade Dykes had scored two tries, as well as sending second-rower Reubenn Rennie in to score in the north-west corner in the 31st minute.

The elusive Dykes had played a big role in the two Newtown tries that extended the Jets second-half lead out to an unassailable 26-8. Front-rower Franklin Pele’s try in the 72nd minute and Luke Metcalf’s second try in the last minute of the game stretched Newtown’s lead out to 38-12.

Jets coach Greg Matterson noted that there was still plenty of work to be done, especially when coming up against a full-strength and fired-up Penrith Panthers team at Henson Park next Saturday. There needed to be some attention to aspects of Newtown’s defensive effort but Matterson was clearly pleased with Newtown’s improved performance in attack.

Kade Dykes scored two tries and set up two more, including a soaring cut-out pass that sent winger Jensen Taumoepeau in at the south-west corner. Luke Metcalf also scored two tries and laid on the final pass for two more. Hooker Jayden Berrell was involved in five of Newtown’s seven tries and turned on a stream of crisp service from dummy-half.

Coach Matterson also commended the work of front-rowers Caleb Uele and Franklin Pele and the centres Kayal Iro and Mawene Hiroti, as well as the mesmerising footwork and passing skills of the halves Kade Dykes and Luke Metcalf. 

The Newtown Jets return home to Henson Park next Saturday, 18th June, for this much-awaited top of the table encounter with Penrith, which will kick off at 3.00pm.

Sunday’s match details were:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 14
Sunday, 12th June 2022
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Newcastle Knights v Newtown

Kick-Off: 1.05pm.

Weather: Fine, 17 degrees, wind 25 k/ph.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Newtown 38:
Luke Metcalf 2, Kade Dykes 2, Reubenn Rennie, Jensen Taumoepeau, Franklin Pele tries;

Luke Metcalf 4, Mawene Hiroti goals

defeated
Newcastle Knights 12:
Luke Huth, Brodie Jones, Brayden Musgrove tries.

Half-Time: Newtown led 14-4.

Newtown’s team was:

Fullback: Lachlan Miller
Wingers: Tyla Tamou, Jensen Taumoepeau

Centres: Mawene Hiroti, Kayal Iro
Five-Eighth: Kade Dykes
Halfback: Luke Metcalf
Lock: Tyler Slade
Second-Rowers: Myles Lee-Taueli, Reubenn Rennie
Front-Rowers: Franklin Pele, Caleb Uele
Hooker: Jayden Berrell.

Interchange: Rhys Davies, Liam Harris, Jonah Ngaronoa, Vincent Rennie.
18th: Addison Demetriou.

Coach Greg Matterson.

Newcastle Knights:

Fullback: Bailey Hodgson
Wingers: Hymel Hunt, Brayden Musgrove
Centres: Dylan Lucas, Heath Gibbs

Five-Eighth: Liam Wilkinson

Halfback: Tex Hoy
Lock: Jaron Purcell
Second-Rowers: Jack Johns, Brodie Jones
Front-Rowers: Tim Johannssen, Jirah Momoisea

Hooker: Phoenix Crossland
Interchange: Luke Huth, Callan Burgess, Jyris Glamuzina, Brock Greacen

18th: Paul Bryan

Coach: Mark O’Meley.

Match timeline:

Newtown kicked off to the northern end of the McDonald Jones Stadium in the first half.

16th minute: Luke Metcalf’s 40/20 gave Newtown a good attacking platform.

18th minute: Kade Dykes scored five metres in from the western sideline.

19th minute: Mawene Hiroti’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Newtown led 4-0.
21st minute: Kade Dykes scored under the posts at the northern end. Franklin Pele and Myles Lee-Taueli had done well to work the ball downfield.
22nd minute: Mawene Hiroti converted the try. Newtown 10-0.
31st minute: Reubenn Rennie burst through to score in the north-west corner.

32nd minute: Luke Metcalf’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Newtown led 14-0.
37th minute: Brodie Jones scored for the Knights.
38th minute: Tex Hoy did not convert the try. Newtown 14-4.
Halftime: Newtown led 14-4.

46th minute: Luke Huth scored in the north-west corner.
47th minute: Tex Hoy did not convert the try. Newtown 14-8.

54th minute: Kade Dykes and Luke Metcalf combine for a great try. Metcalf scored twenty metres in from the western sideline.
56th minute: Luke Metcalf converted his own try. Newtown 20-8.
63rd minute: The very much in-form Kade Dykes fired out a superb cut-out pass to Jensen Taumoepeau who scored five metres in from the south-west corner.

65th minute: Luke Metcalf converted from wide out. Newtown 26-8.

72nd minute: The rampaging Franklin Pele carried two Knights defenders with him across the line and scored five metres to the right of the southern end uprights.

74th minute: Luke Metcalf converted the try. Newtown 32-8.
75th minute: Brayden Musgrove scored for the Knights. The try was not converted. Newtown 32-12.

78th minute: Luke Metcalf slices through the Knights defence and scored twenty metres in from the south-west corner.
79th minute: Luke Metcalf converted his own try. Newtown 38-12.
Fulltime: Newtown 38 defeated Newcastle Knights 12.

As a result of Penrith’s 34-12 loss to the Canberra Raiders, Newtown has now moved into first place on the NSWRL KOE NSW Cup premiership table.

After the completion of Round 14, the NSW Cup premiership table is: 
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=14&season=2022

Courtesy of the NSWRL website, here are the highlights from Sunday’s Knights v Jets match:
 https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2022/06/13/nsw-cup-highlights–knights-v-jets—round-14/

The Newtown Jets return to Henson Park next Saturday for their next NSW Cup fixture.

It just so happens that Newtown (now in first place) will be at home to Penrith (in second place).

The match details are:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 15
Saturday, 18th June 2022
Henson Park

Newtown (in first place) versus Penrith (in second place)
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.