Newtown Jets halfback Fa’amanu Brown looks to break through the Mounties defence in last Saturday’s ISP NSW qualifying final at Pepper Stadium, Penrith. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography
Newtown Jets halfback Fa’amanu Brown looks to break through the Mounties defence in last Saturday’s ISP NSW qualifying final at Pepper Stadium, Penrith. Photo: Gary Sutherland Photography

Jets loss sends them into an elimination semi-final

Report on the ISP NSW Finals Week 1 match between Newtown and Mounties, played at Pepper Stadium, Penrith on Saturday, 3rd September 2016 by Glen ‘Bumper’ Dwyer.

The Newtown Jets were decisively beaten by Mounties 30-12 in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW qualifying final played at Penrith on Saturday. The Jets live to fight another day, as they now move into an elimination semi-final against the New Zealand Warriors at Penrith on Sunday evening.

The Jets had plenty of ball early in Saturday’s game and went close to breaking through the minor premiers’ defence on a couple of occasions. Newtown was punished for missed one on one tackles and Mounties opened up a 16-0 lead (3 tries and 2 goals) by the 28th minute. Jets hooker and captain Matt McIlwrick scored next to the southern end goal posts in the 35th minute and Fa’amanu Brown’s conversion narrowed the deficit to 16-6, which remained the score at half-time.

Jets coach Greg Matterson was sure they were still in the game 16-6 down at the break, but they needed to be the first to score in the second half. Instead Mounties kicked a penalty soon after play resumed to increase their lead to 18-6, and then added converted tries in the 54th and 64th minutes to have the game under control through a 30-6 lead. Fa’amanu Brown scored one of his trademark tries eight minutes out from full-time, and his conversion made the score 30-12 which remained as the full-time score.

Matterson’s post-match assessment was that the Jets didn’t put into practice what they had concentrated on leading into the game. There was no lack of effort by the Newtown players but they paid the price for not sticking to their pre-match instructions. The Jets had completed their sets well but didn’t put sufficient pressure on Mounties in their end of set options.

Matt McIlwrick was judged to be Newtown’s most effective player, while Jaline Graham, Matt Evans and Josh Cleeland were the best of the backs. The Jets forwards had made a real contest of it against the big Mounties pack, but the minor premiers’ NRL playing experience came to the fore in defining the difference between the two teams.

The Jets travel to Pepper Stadium, Penrith to take on the New Zealand Warriors in an elimination semi-final on Sunday, 11th September, at 6.35pm. This match is to be televised live on Fox Sports One.

Hard-running centre Nene Macdonald played on numerous occasions for the Newtown Jets in 2021.  Last Sunday Nene was playing for Papua-New Guinea against the Cook Islands in the 2023 Pacific Championships - Pacific Bowl and he scored four tries. (Photo: Mike Magee).

Information about 2024 Newtown RLFC memberships; Newtown Jets playing in the 2023 Pacific Championship Series; and a reminder about Newtown RLFC merchandise.

Kyle Pickering and Daniel Atkinson, Italian rugby league representative team, 7th October 2023 (NSWRL Twitter) crop

These Newtown Jets players have gained selection in various end of season representative rugby league teams

Newtown Jets 2023 Presentation Night bottom image for web post

The Newtown Jets RLFC held its Annual Presentation Dinner on the evening of Friday, 29th September 2023 at the Petersham RSL Club.

Newtown Jets left-edge backrower Kyle Pickering (in possession) about to score at Henson Park on Saturday, 22nd July 2023. Jets fullback Manaia Waitere salutes the crowd after playing a clever role in setting up the try. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown RLFC 2023 Presentation Dinner Details

July 22, 2023 - Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, Kyle Pickering of the Newtown Jets scores his second try of the game during Round 21 of the NSWRL Knock On Effect NSW Cup at Henson Park in Marrickville, New South Wales. (Mario Facchini/mafphotography)

Newtown RLFC 2023 Presentation Night Details

Sunday Sun 603

The Other Premiers of 1943

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

Invisi-Gard
Jersey Minor

John Singleton Group
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Schofield King Lawyers
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Coverforce
Front of Shorts

The Henson
Back of Shorts

Sydney Park Hotel
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Sports Medicine Institute
Medical Services & Rehabilitation

Label Plus
Major Sponsor

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.