Jets’ Errors Prove Costly Against Combative Magpies

The Newtown Jets lost another game to a team well beneath them on the NSW Cup competition table, when they were beaten 24-22 by Western Suburbs at Henson Park on Saturday.

This was Newtown’s sixth loss for the season and puts the Jets in third place on the NSW Cup competition table, with several matches still to play against lower-placed teams that are making determined challenges for a place in the finals.

Newtown began Saturday’s match in a rather similar mode to the previous week’s humiliation at the hands of St George-Illawarra. On Saturday the Wests Magpies dominated play in the first twenty minutes, running up a 14-0 lead from three tries and one conversion.

The Jets fought their way back into the game with tries to winger Sam Stonestreet in the 24th minute and second-rower Kyle Pickering in the 28th minute.

Wests nearly increased their 14-10 lead right on half-time through  a penalty goal attempt that hit both uprights and bounced away, with the Magpies taking their four-point advantage into the half-time break.

Both teams made errors in the opening minutes of the second half, but an exceptional penalty line-kick by Braydon Trindall gained 60 metres for the Jets and put them in a strong attacking position.

Determined running and quality off-loads by Tuku Hau Tapuha and young hooker Sam Healey sent the Jets fullback Connor Tracey racing in to score in the 46th minute. Five-eighth Mawene Hiroti converted from in front of the posts and Newtown had taken the lead by 16-14.

The Jets were now having the better of play and another penalty took Newtown close to the Magpies try-line. Sam Healey showed split-second timing and judgement to dive under a wall of Wests defenders to score a try from dummy-half. Hiroti’s conversion increased Newtown’s lead to 22-14 with twenty minutes remaining.

A potentially game-changing decision in the 66th minute saw the Jets penalised for obstruction of a Wests defender, just when Newtown players looked to be creating a try-scoring opportunity that would have given the Jets a more substantial lead.

Wests certainly threw everything into their game in the last fifteen minutes, getting across the try-line on one occasion and being held up, and then having a try disallowed for a forward pass with ten minutes left to play.

A crucial play-the-ball error by the Jets 45 metres out from their own try-line gave a lifeline to the Magpies. Wests scored on the last tackle of the ensuing set to trail 22-18 with just five minutes left on the clock.

Newtown’s kick-off went over the dead-ball line on the full, setting up the ultimate grandstand finish. There might have been the hint of a forward pass in the Magpies next set, but a Wests forward settled matters by crashing over to score carrying two Newtown defenders with him. This try was converted for Wests to regain the lead (in what was now the 78th minute) by 24-22, which they managed to maintain until full-time.

In truth, the Jets had been their worst enemies in terms of conceding penalties, handling errors and that errant kick-off sailing across the dead-ball line at a vital moment.`

Newtown had been unable to build on their 22-14 lead which may well have put the result beyond the Magpies reach.

The third-placed Jets now face an important game when they travel to Auckland to play the fourth-placed New Zealand Warriors.

This match is on Sunday, 16th July at the Go Media Stadium (the former Mt Smart Stadium).

The game kicks off at 11.30am (Australian Eastern Standard Time) and will be televised live on Foxtel.

This NSW Cup match will be a curtain-raiser to the New Zealand Warriors versus Cronulla Sharks Round 20 NRL fixture.


NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
19th Round
Saturday, 8th July 2023
Henson Park

Newtown v Western Suburbs
Kick-Off: 3.00pm

This match was the first leg of the 2023 Tom Raudonikis Cup series and was livestreamed on the NSWRL Facebook site (NSWRLTV).

Playing surface: Excellent
Weather: Clear, sunny, 19 degrees, blustery southern wind.

Referee: Darian Furner
Touch Judges: Ben Teague, Pat Mackey

Western Suburbs 24:
Liam Scolari 2, Jack Boyling 2, Tukimihia Simpkins tries;

Zane Camroux 2 conversions

defeated
Newtown 22:
Sam Stonestreet, Kyle Pickering, Connor Tracey, Sam Healey tries:
Mawene Hiroti 3 conversions.

Half-Time: Western Suburbs led 14-10.

Newtown’s team:
Fullback: Connor Tracey
Wingers: Josh Mansour, Sam Stonestreet
Centres: Kayal Iro, Jensen Taumoepeau
Halves: Mawene Hiroti, Braydon Trindall (Captain)
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Charbel Tasipale, Kyle Pickering
Front-Rowers: Rhys Dakin, Caleb Uele
Hooker: Tyler Slade

Interchange:
Kurt Dillon, Sam Healey, Brad Fearnley, Tuku Hau Tapuha

18th Man: Trentham Petersen

Coach: George Ndaira.

Western Suburbs:
Fullback: Israel Ogden
Wingers: Liam Scolari, Sione Hopoate
Centres: Livai Saukuru, Triston Reilly
Halves: Zane Camroux, Semisi Kioa
Lock: Sione Fainu
Second-Rowers: Brandon Mansfield, Jack Boyling
Front-Rowers: James Roumanos, Tukimihia Simpkins
Hooker: Rua Ngatikaura (Captain)

Interchange:
Tom Freebairn, John Tuivaiti, Aden Perry, Justin Matamua
18th Man: Not advised.
Coach: Wayne Lambkin

NSW Cup, Round 19 Highlights || Newtown v Western Suburbs: –
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/07/08/nswrl-tv-highlights–jets-v-magpies—round-19/

The Short Side || Luke Lewis || NSW Cup, Round 19: –
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/07/07/the-short-side-with-luke-lewis–round-19/

Match Timeline:

First Half:
Newtown kicked off and were running to the Sydenham Road end.

3rd minute: Liam Scolari try.

Not converted. Wests 4-0.

12th minute; Tukimihia Simpkins try.

Not converted. Wests 8-0.
19th minute; Liam Scolari try.

Converted by Zane Camroux. Wests 14-0.

25th minute: Sam Stonestreet try.
Not converted. Wests 14-4.

28th minute: Kyle Pickering try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti. Wests 14-10.

39th minute: Wests missed a penalty goal conversion attempt.

Half-Time: Western Suburbs led 14-10.
Second Half:
46th minute: Connor Tracey try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti. Newtown now led 16-14.
58th minute: Sam Healey try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti. Newtown 22-14.

73rd minute: Jack Boyling try.
Not converted. Newtown led 22-18.
76th minute: Jack Boyling try.
Converted by Zane Camroux. Wests 24-22.
Full-Time: Western Suburbs 24 defeated Newtown 22.

Newtown’s next game details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
20th Round
Sunday, 16th July 2023
Go Media Stadium, Auckland (Mt Smart Stadium)
New Zealand Warriors v Newtown

Kick-Off: 11.30am (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

This match is being televised live on Foxtel.

Photos:
All of the accompanying photos were taken by Mario Facchini, mafphotography