Jets

KOE NSW Cup Round 19

Saturday 12th July 2025

3pm

 HENSON PARK

Manly logo 2025 crop
Newtown Jets front-rower Jesse Sene-Lefao confronts the Penrith Panthers defensive line last Saturday, backed up by (from left) Harrison Muller, Matt McIlwrick and Mitch Brown. Photo:
Gary Sutherland Photography
Newtown Jets front-rower Jesse Sene-Lefao confronts the Penrith Panthers defensive line last Saturday, backed up by (from left) Harrison Muller, Matt McIlwrick and Mitch Brown. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography

Jets learn all about Rugby League’s fickle fortunes

Report on the 16th round ISP NSW match between Penrith and Newtown, played at St Marys Stadium on Saturday, 25th June 2016 by Glen ‘Bumper’ Dwyer.

On the previous Saturday the Newtown Jets had scored a runaway win at home against the then-Intrust Super Premiership leaders, the New Zealand Warriors. Last Saturday at St Marys Stadium the Jets came up against the in-form and very strong Penrith Panthers team and were blown away 60-6.

The Jets went into this 16th round match with a less than full-strength team sheet. A succession on injuries to several key players during the game left Newtown with no replacements on their interchange bench for the last fifteen minutes. This was the Panthers fifth win in a row and the Mountain Men have most assuredly thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the ISP NSW clubs as to who is on the rise in premiership aspirations. The presence in Penrith’s ranks of an NRL veteran like Jamie Soward, with his on-field organisational skills, astute kicking in general play as well as his ten successful conversions, was anything but a negative factor.

This match was still a contest up until the 28th minute of the first half. Penrith led 12-6 and Newtown was in a strong attacking position and looking dangerous. The Jets ball movement broke down and the Panthers then scored a converted try in the next set. To add to Newtown’s problems, their highly effective hooker and dummy-half Matt McIlwrick left the field with an eye injury and was finished for the day. Penrith went on to add two more converted tries before halftime and went in at the break with a 30-6 lead.

Any Newtown supporters who recalled the Jets hauling in a 30-6 points deficit against Penrith two years previously at Allianz Stadium found that history rarely repeats itself. A succession of injuries further depleted Newtown’s ranks and the Panthers added a total of five more tries in the second half. Penrith had close to seventy per cent of possession in the first half and no doubt defensive fatigue as well as the disruption caused by injuries added to Newtown’s woes.

Newtown clearly missed the play-making services of slick halfback Fa’amanu Brown, who was on NRL duties with the Cronulla Sharks. This of course is all part of the partnership arrangements between NRL and ISP clubs, and there are likely to be critical games every season where an ISP club’s depth in playing strength is bound to be tested.

The Jets undertake an interesting change in routine this Friday. In order to accommodate the rescheduling requirements of their postponed 13 round match, Newtown will play the Illawarra Cutters on Friday night, 1st July at Henson Park with the kick-off timed for 7.00pm.

Newtown’s last Friday night competition match at Henson Park was a semi-final ten years ago. The Illawarra Cutters are another ISP NSW club with impressive recent form, and they will travel to Henson Park on Friday night on the back of four consecutive wins. The Cutters are now in third place on the competition table and the Jets are one point behind them in fourth position.

Image: Harrison Tse

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TT Jets meal wide shot 603 high

TokyoTaco X Newtown Jets Meal – The Ultimate Footy Feast

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v North Sydney Bears Sat 5th July, 2025 (Frank Hyde Shield)

The class of defence that won Newtown this game ....
Sam McCulloch (left), Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa (top) and Josh Cook (below). (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown Jets win one for the ages with a stirring second half performance

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v South Sydney Rabbitohs (Farrell Rayner Cup) Sun 29th July 2025

A fine image of Bruce Olive in his NSW playing jersey, superimposed over an image of him in a Newtown Bluebags photo.

Vale to Bruce Olive

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

Eclectic 365
Chest

John Singleton Group
Sleeve

PHILTER
Shoulder blades, Brewing

Coverforce
Front of Shorts

VIC on the Park
Back of Shorts

Strive Fitness
Gym

Sports Medicine Institute
Medical Services & Rehabilitation

Henson Park Hotel
Back of Shorts

Arista Technologies
Technology Partner

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.