Newtown Jets halfback Fa’amanu Brown dummies to his giant team-mate Malakai Houma in last Saturday’s top of the table clash against Mounties at Henson Park. Photo: Mario Facchini Photography.
Newtown Jets halfback Fa’amanu Brown dummies to his giant team-mate Malakai Houma in last Saturday’s top of the table clash against Mounties at Henson Park. Photo: Mario Facchini Photography.

Jets pay the price for missed scoring chances

Report on the 10th round ISP NSW match between Newtown and Mounties, played at Henson Park on Saturday, 14th May 2016 by Glen ‘Bumper’ Dwyer.

A big crowd at Henson Park on Saturday saw an absorbing showdown between the two Intrust Super Premiership (ISP) front-runners, Mounties and the Newtown Jets. The boys in blue were left to regret their missed scoring opportunities in the first half as the Canberra Raiders partnership club held on for a narrow 18-12 win. Both teams made a lot of errors but also turned in determined, almost brutal defensive efforts.

The Jets put plenty of pressure on the visitors early in the game but handling and passing errors took the edge off their attacking play. Five-eighth Josh Cleeland stepped his way through the Mounties defence in the 17th minute and halfback Fa’amanu Brown converted the try. Newtown failed to take advantage of a couple of scoring opportunities midway through the first half which would prove costly. The Jets then made a handling error at their end which Mounties capitalised on, scoring a converted try in the 34th minute. Mounties added another six points three minutes later when they scored from a ricocheting grubber kick right on Newtown’s try-line. The Jets trailed 12-6 at halftime but they had created the most scoring opportunities in the first forty minutes.

The second half was a gripping encounter between the ISP heavyweights, and despite the errors and ineffective kicking tactics, there was a grim intensity that kept the big crowd fully engaged. Jets hooker and captain Matt McIlwrick crossed the line early in the second half but was held up by frantic defenders. The Mounties line speed and tough tackling kept the Jets contained, and Newtown coach Greg Matterson sent the message out for his players to adopt a more expansive style and “to start playing a bit of footy”.

Five-eighth Josh Cleeland hurled himself at the line with ten minutes remaining, but referee Jeff Hartup claimed that he hadn’t grounded the ball. Minutes later the referee controversially ruled a shepherd against a Jets ball-carrier, and Mounties added a penalty goal to create an eight-point buffer. Newtown launched an all-out attack down their left side but an audacious intercept by the Mounties winger ended in a 90 metres runaway try. The non-stop Cleeland snapped up a bouncing grubber kick in the last minute to score his second try, and Fa’amanu Brown’s conversion made the full-time score 18-12.

For Newtown, second-rower Kurt Capewell and five-eighth Josh Cleeland were the standout performers and these former Ipswich Jets players are winning a lot of fans amongst the Henson Park army. All of the Newtown forwards worked hard in defence, with Mounties only scoring the one try where the Jets defensive line was breached through ball play. Big Malakai Houma added a bit of sting to Newtown’s “go forward” when he came on from the bench. Centre Jordan Drew went very close to breaking through to score on a couple of occasions. Kurt Dillon suffered a thumb injury which might keep him sidelined for some weeks. Coach Matterson noted that in such a tight contest between two fairly evenly-matched teams, every scoring opportunity has to be maximised as there aren’t many second chances available.

The Jets travel away next Sunday, 22nd May, to the northern end of the Central Coast when they will take on Wyong at the Morrie Breen Oval at 3.00pm.

Newtown's head coach George Ndaira (left) and Head of Football Greg Matterson are pictured with the 2024 NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup premiership trophy. George and Greg are both on deck again as the Newtown Jets head into the 2025 NSW Cup season. 
(Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown’s first NSW Cup trial game for 2025 is against Penrith at Henson Park on Saturday, 8th February at 4.00pm

This photo of the Newtown RLFC players, staff, Directors and sponsors was taken at Henson Park on the day before the final home game for the 2024 season.  (Photo: Mario Facchini)

The Newtown Jets celebrate what was a magnificent year in the history of Australia’s oldest rugby league club

Newtown Jets 2024 Presentation Night Poster

2024 NEWTOWN RLFC NSW CUP PREMIERS PRESENTATION DINNER & AWARDS NIGHT

Newtown's giant front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha gets into stride as he carries the ball forward in Sunday's NRL State Championship Final. Photo: Mario Facchini / mafphotography

Second half errors prove costly as the Newtown Jets lose narrowly in the NRL State Championship Final

Barry Vining of the Jets celebrates after the preliminary final of the NSW Cup finals series game between the Newtown Jets and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney on September 23, 2012. Jets defeated Bulldogs 34-6. (Photo by Jason McCawley)

Vale Barry Noel Vining OAM

Image: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

Newtown Jets Team List v Norths Devils Sun 6th October, 2024 (NRL State Championship)

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

HPH-02

Henson Park Hotel
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

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.