Jets lay on five tries in thrilling win over defending premiers

The Newtown Jets gave an impressive performance in defeating the 2022 NSW Cup premiers Penrith by 29-16 in the match played at Blacktown on Sunday. Newtown had led 12-0 at halftime and had to stave off a fightback by the Panthers when Penrith trailed 24-16 with eleven minutes left to play.

The match was played in slightly unusual circumstances for the Jets, with this fixture being classified as a Newtown home game and being played at the H. E. Laybutt Field in Blacktown, with the game commencing at 11.00am (as part of the arrangements for the NSW Cup Magic Round).

Newtown dominated play in the first quarter of the game but found it hard to breach the renowned Penrith Panthers defensive iron wall. The score was still locked at nil-all after 26 minutes when Newtown finally broke through to score following smart ball play involving Jayden Berrell, Billy Magoulias, Niwhai Puru and finally Daniel Atkinson, who ran in to score near the southern end goal posts.

Newtown’s second try was a sequence of passes between Jordin Leiu, Mawene Hiroti, Jayden Berrell and Billy Magoulias in the midfield, ending in Daniel Atkinson dashing fifty metres and evading several defenders to score his second try. Both of Newtown’s first half tries were converted by Mawene Hiroti and the Jets led 12-0 at the break.

The Panthers responded with a converted try early in the second half but Newtown scored again five minutes later. This try featured high-speed passing and well-practiced support play between Tuku Hau Tapuha, Jayden Berrell, Billy Magoulias, Niwhai Puru, Daniel Atkinson and finally Jensen Taumoepeau, who gave the final pass for Sam Stonestreet to dive over triumphantly in the north-eastern corner.

Newtown’s fourth try, scored in the 59th minute, was created by a clever pass from Berrell and a brilliant cross-field kick by Atkinson, ending in the flying Stonestreet gathering in the ball to score near the northern posts. Hiroti converted both of these second half tries and helped extend Newtown’s lead to 24-6 with just under twenty minutes left to play.

The Panthers proved they had plenty of fight left in them by scoring tries in the 65th and 69th minutes to get back into the contest, trailing by 24-16 with eleven minutes on the clock.

An error at Penrith’s end enabled the ever-alert Jayden Berrell to roll a grubber-kick into the in-goal that was pounced on by Kayal Iro.

The Jets applied the coup de grâce by way of a field goal kicked by the former Penrith player Niwhai Puru in the game’s final minute, for Newtown to ensure an important win by 29-16.

This had been an all-round team effort by the Jets on a day that entailed some unusual pre-match preparations, along with a spirited team performance that brought a valuable win against last season’s premiership-winners. One Newtown staff member said after the game: “This has been an important win psychologically for our lads. Penrith beat us three times in three matches last year and we’ve proved to ourselves now that we can more than match them in the physical confrontation and on the score-board!”

Newtown’s next match is on Sunday, 14th May, against Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at the 4 Pines Park (Brookvale Oval). This match is timed for kick-off at 1.35pm.

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – Round Ten
Sunday, 7th May 2023
H. E. Laybutt Field, Blacktown

Penrith v Newtown
Kick-Off: 11.00am.

Weather: Overcast, intermittent sunny spells; 14 degrees; rain fell late in the second half.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Referee: Clayton Wills
Touch Judges: Mitchell Stone and John Wood.

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights || Newtown Jets v Penrith Panthers || Round 10 || Played on Sunday, 7th May 2023:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2023/05/07/nsw-cup-highlights–jets-v-panthers—round-10/

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table after ten rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=10&season=2023

Newtown 29:
Daniel Atkinson 2, Samuel Stonestreet 2, Kayal Iro tries;

Mawene Hiroti 4 conversions; Niwhai Puru 1 field goal

defeated
Penrith 16:
Liam Henry, Kurt Falls, Tom Jenkins tries;
Kurt Falls 2 conversions.

Halftime: Newtown led 12-0.

Newtown’s team on Sunday was:
Fullback: Mawene Hiroti
Wingers: Josh Mansour, Samuel Stonestreet
Centres: Jensen Taumoepeau, Kayal Iro
Halves: Daniel Atkinson, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Billy Magoulias
Second Rowers: Jordin Leiu, Kyle Pickering
Front Rowers: Rhys Dakin, Jesse Colquhoun
Hooker: Jayden Berrell.

Interchange:
Charbel Tasipale, Tyler Slade, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Brad Fearnley

Reserve: Thomas Rodwell

Coach: George Ndaira.

Penrith’s team was:
Fullback: Isaiah Iongi
Wingers: Tom Jenkins, Daeon Amituanai
Centres: Matt Stimson, Samuel Lane
Halves: Kurt Falls, Jack Cogger
Lock: Chris Smith
Second Rowers: Luke Garner, Mavrik Geyer
Front Rowers: Ativalu Lisati, Liam Henry
Hooker: Luke Sommerton.
Interchange:
Trent Toelau, Eddie Blacker, John Faiumu, Sunita Lotoaniu

Reserve: Harrison Hassett
Coach: Ben Harden.

Match Timeline for the 7th May 2023:

Kick-Off: 11.00am.
Newtown was running to the southern end of the H.E.Laybutt Field.
26 mins 30 secs: Daniel Atkinson try
28.00: Mawene Hiroti conversion. Newtown 6-0.

37.30: Daniel Atkinson try
39.00: Mawene Hiroti conversion. Newtown 12-0.

40.00: Halftime: Newtown led 12-0.
45.00: Liam Henry try.
46.00: Kurt Falls conversion. Newtown 12-6.

50.00: Sam Stonestreet try.

52.30: Mawene Hiroti conversion. Newtown 18-6.
58.30: Sam Stonestreet try.
60.00: Mawene Hiroti conversion. Newtown 24-6.

64.00: Kurt Falls try.

65.00: Kurt Falls conversion. Newtown 24-12.

69.00: Tom Jenkins try. Not converted. Newtown 24-16.
71.00: Kayal Iro try.
73.00: Not converted. Newtown 28-16.

79.00: Niwhai Puru field goal. Newtown 29-16.

80.00: Fulltime: Newtown 29 defeated Penrith 16.

Newtown’s next match details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – Round Eleven
Sunday, 14th May 2023
4 Pines Park, Brookvale (Brookvale Oval)
Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles (9th place) v Newtown (4th place)
Kick-Off: 1.35pm.