Jets cruise past Knights in season finale

Sharks Media Sunday, 27 August 2023

The Jets have finished the NSW Cup season with a commanding 48-10 win over the Knights but it wasn’t enough for them to qualify for the upcoming Finals series.

The victory saw the Jets put themselves into contention for a spot in the top five, however with the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles beating the Bulldogs in another last round match with Finals implications, followed by the Raiders scoring an upset win over the first-paced Bears, the Newtown side have fallen just short of a berth in the five-team NSW Cup Finals. 

Backing up a big win over the Wests Magpies the previous weekend, the Jets played an enterprising attacking brand of football, albeit against a Knights team out of Finals contention and with little to play for.

The Jets were first on the board in the 14th minute of the match, Sam Stonestreet finishing off a 105-metre try scoring play, the young Sharks winger backing up a linebreak and dashing 50-metres after Kayal Iro had picked the ball up in his own in goal before beating multiple defenders then heading downfield.  (Check out the 105 metre try on the match highlights link below; it would have to be a contender for the NSW Cup try of the year!)

Iro was in the game again soon after, running into a yawning gap on the try line five minutes later and despite two missed conversions, the Jets led 8-0.

Backrower Kyle Pickering, on the end of some good lead up play from Daniel Atkinson was next to score and with Niwhai Puru on target with the kick at goal, it was 14-0 Jets at the half time break.

The second period had barely got underway when Stonestreet made it a double with a try wide out and when Puru added the extras the Jets were well on their way at 20-0.

The Knights would mount something of a revival with two tries in quick succession, but the Jets were far too good, with Iro claiming a hat-trick of tries in the nine try to two rout.

For the Jets, Iro was a handful for his opposite number, Atkinson added class from fullback, while it was a strong display from Stonestreet in his first game back after a lengthy time on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

While finding form late in the season, the Jets were forced to wait for the Bears v Raiders game later in the day, with the result in favour of the Canberra team meaning the season for the Newtown team had come to an end. 

The final five of the NSW Cup for 2023 is as follows, (from first to fifth): North Sydney, South Sydney, New Zealand Warriors, Canberra Raiders and the Sea Eagles. Newtown finished in sixth position (one point behind the Sea Eagles), while last year’s grand finalists Penrith and Canterbury-Bankstown have also not qualified for the semi-finals.


Game Details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
26th Round
Sunday, 27th August 2023
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Newcastle Knights v Newtown
Kick-Off: 11.30am.

Playing surface: Excellent
Weather: Sunny, 18 degrees, slight breeze

Newcastle Knights v Newtown match highlights:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/08/27/nsw-cup-highlights–knights-v-jets—round-26/

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table after 26 rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=26&season=2023

NSWRL commentary following the completion of the NSW Cup competition rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/08/27/thrilling-final-round-sorts-finalists-for-knock-on-effect-nsw-cup/Match Result:

Newtown 48:
Kayal Iro 3, Sam Stonestreet 2, Kyle Pickering, Manaia Waitere, Brad Fearnley, Jensen Taumoepeau tries;
Niwhai Puru 6 conversions
defeated
Newcastle Knights:
Kyle McCarthy, David Armstrong tries;
Liam Sutton 1 conversion.

Half-Time: Newtown led 14-0.


The teams:

Newtown:
Fullback: Daniel Atkinson
Wingers: Jensen Taumoepeau, Tom Rodwell
Centres: Addison Demetriou, Kayal Iro
Halves: Manaia Waitere, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Brad Fearnley
Second Rowers: Tuku Hau Tapuha, Kyle Pickering
Front Rowers: Caleb Uele, Rhys Dakin
Hooker: Jayden Berrell (Captain)
Interchange: Blake Hosking, Kurt Dillon, Samuel Stonestreet, Samuel Healey
18th Man: Johnny-Lee Gabrael
Coach: George Ndaira

Newcastle Knights:
Fullback: David Armstrong
Wingers: Keanu Wainohu-Kemp, Laitia Moceidreke
Centres: Kyle McCarthy, Liam Wilkinson
Halves: Simi Sasagi, Liam Sutton
Lock: Jack Johns (Captain)
Second Rowers: Oryn Keeley, Dane Aukafolau
Front Rowers: Sebastian Su’a, Callan Burgess
Hooker: Temple Kalepo
Interchange:
Lucas Thomson, Toni Tupouniua, John Toleafoa, Elijah Salesa Ieaumoana
18th Man: Harry Croker
Coach: Michael Monaghan.


Match Timeline:
14th minute: Sam Stonestreet try, not converted.
Newtown 4-0.
19th minute: Kayal Iro try, not converted.
Newtown 8-0.
29th minute: Kyle Pickering try, converted by Niwhai Puru.
Newtown 14-0.

Half-Time: Newtown led 14-0.

41st minute: Sam Stonestreet try, converted by Niwhai Puru.
Newtown 20-0.
43rd minute: Manaia Waitere try, converted by Niwhai Puru.
Newtown 26-0.
47th minute: Brad Fearnley try, converted by Niwhai Puru>
Newtown 32-0.
54th minute: Kyle McCarthy try, not converted
Newtown 32-4
59th minute: David Armstrong try, converted by Liam Sutton
Newtown 32-10
66th minute: Kayal Iro try, converted by Niwhai Puru
Newtown 38-10
71st minute: Kayal Iro try, not converted
Newtown 42-10
78th minute: Jensen Taumoepeau try, converted by Niwhai Puru
Newtown 48-10

Full-Time: Newtown 48 defeated Newcastle Knights 10.