Jets halfback Niwhai Puru on his way to his second try. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography
Jets halfback Niwhai Puru on his way to his second try. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

Jets dominant first half ensures win in second NSW Cup trial

Newtown defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 40-32 in a high-scoring Knock-On Effect NSW Cup trial match, played at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday, 19th February.

This was Newtown’s second and final trial for the 2023 pre-season. The match commenced at 11.50am and was played in very warm conditions. Newtown took control of the game midway through the first half and ran up a formidable 34-6 lead by half-time. The Jets ran in five tries in the second quarter of the game in what was an impressive exhibition of attacking football, keen support play and control through the middle.

Front-rower prospect Max Bradbury takes the ball into the thick of the Bulldogs defence. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

The second half was a curious combination of a relatively even contest throughout the third quarter, ending in the Bulldogs running in four tries in the final eight minutes of the game. Newtown’s big lead at half-time was not likely to be overhauled, but the Canterbury try-scoring onslaught left the Newtown coaching staff with some issues to consider before the first competition round at Henson Park on Saturday, 4th March.

Newtown’s seven tries were scored by halfback Niwhai Puru (2 tries), backrower Charbel Tasipale, fullback Trentham Petersen, winger Thomas Rodwell, lock Billy Magoulias and five-eighth Johnny-Lee Gabrael. The scrum-half Niwhai Puru was an off-season signing by the Sharks from Penrith and he made a memorable debut in Newtown’s colours. In addition to his two tries, he also landed five conversions and a penalty goal.

Several players in Sunday’s trial had been members of Newtown’s 2022 roster. These included wingers Thomas Rodwell and Samuel Stonestreet, centre Kayal Iro (the 2022 NSW Cup Player of the Year and a Cook Islands World Cup representative), lock Billy Magoulias (who represented Greece in last year’s World Cup), backrower Charbel Tasipale (a Lebanese World Cup representative), giant front-rower Thomas Hazelton and hookers Jayden Berrell and Isaac Longmuir.

Billy Magoulias takes the ball forward in Sunday’s trial match at Belmore. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography
Jets hooker Jayden Berrell breaks through the Canterbury defence. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

A particularly interesting inclusion in Newtown’s team on Sunday was the former Australian Test winger and NSW State of Origin representative Josh Mansour. Josh has indicated he is interested in playing with Newtown, while remaining open to any offers from NRL clubs.

Josh Mansour is interviewed after fulltime on Sunday by journalist Brendan Bradford. (Newtown RLFC Twitter)

The Newtown Jets player Marco Talagi was badly injured in the second half and taken from the field on a stretcher.

Newtown’s head coach George Ndaira and his staff will now get to work on putting together a team from the Jets unbeaten pre-season squad and from those Cronulla Sharks squad members made available for selection.

The Jets first Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition game for 2023 is against South Sydney at Henson Park on Saturday, 4th March at 3.00pm.

Sunday’s match details were: –

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Trial Match:

Sunday, 19th February 2023

Belmore Sports Ground

Canterbury-Bankstown v Newtown

Kick-Off: 11.50am.

Newtown’s team:
Fullback: Trentham Petersen
Wingers: Thomas Rodwell, Samuel Stonestreet
Centres: Kyle Pickering, Kayal Iro

Halves: Johnny-Lee Gabrael, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Billy Magoulias

Second-Rowers: Jordin Leiu

Front-Rowers: Thomas Hazelton, Rhys Dakin

Hooker: Jayden Berrell

Interchange: –

Adam Fearnley, Josh Finau, Sam Healey, Blake Hosking

Max Bradbury, Kai Parker, Wyatt Rangi, Isaac Longmuir

Josh Mansour, Connor Garraty, Marco Talagi.

Coach: George Ndaira.

Canterbury-Bankstown:

Fullback: Joash Papalii

Wingers: Jayden Okunbor, Blake Wilson

Centres: Jeral Skelton, Eli Clark

Halves: Khaled Rajab, Bailey Hayward

Lock: Reece Hoffman

Second-Rowers: Jackson Topine, Harrison Edwards

Front-Rowers: Kurtis Morrin, Jayden Tanner

Hooker: Ryan Gray.

Interchange:
Brandon Clarke, Zac Hetherington, Jack Stringer, Zane Bijoric

Joseph O’Neil, Zac Montgomery, Peni Tagutuimua, Lipoi Hopoi,

Josh Kalati, Harry Hayes, Jonah Glover.

Newtown 40:
Niwhai Puru 2, Charbel Tasipale, Trentham Petersen, Thomas Rodwell, Billy Magoulias, Johnny-Lee Gabrael tries;

Niwhai Puru 5 conversions and 1 penalty goal
defeated
Canterbury-Bankstown 32:

6 tries, 4 conversions.

Half-Time:  Newtown led 34-6

Playing surface: Excellent.

Weather: Sunny, 28 degrees.

Newtown’s next game:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – Round One
Saturday, 4th March 2023

Henson Park
Newtown v South Sydney
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Image: MAF Photography

Newtown Jets Team List v Canberra Raiders Sat 30th March, 2024

Newtown's fullback on Sunday was Liam Ison, who was making his NSW Cup debut for the Jets. He had an outstanding game, including scoring the try that enabled Newtown to draw level with Western Suburbs in the 76th minute. Photo: Mario Facchini (mafphotography)

Newtown Jets snatch victory with a last-minute field goal

Image: MAF Photography

Newtown Jets Team List v Wests Magpies Sun 24th March 2024

Tough Newtown forward Brad Fearnley is a real crowd favourite at Henson Park, and he worked doubly-hard in the Jets' exciting win against the Canterbury Bulldogs last Friday.
Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

Jets work hard to take the points against the Canterbury Bulldogs

Image: MAF Photography

Newtown Jets Team List v Canterbury Bulldogs Fri 15th March 2024

Newtown Jets hooker Sam Healey was in top form over in New Zealand, scoring two tries and showing that he has a big season in front of him. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Jets second half fightback trumped by the Warriors late surge

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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.