Newtown Jets front-rower Malakai Houma in full cry against Mounties last Saturday prior to his suffering what will probably be a season-ending leg fracture. Photo:
MAF Photography
Newtown Jets front-rower Malakai Houma in full cry against Mounties last Saturday prior to his suffering what will probably be a season-ending leg fracture. Photo: MAF Photography

Jets pay the price for shoddy defence

The 2017 Intrust Super Premiership took a turn for the worse for the Newtown Jets in their second round away game against Mounties last Saturday. The Jets were punished for several bad defensive reads and were decisively beaten by the Canberra Raiders partnership club 46-28. Bad injuries to key players during the course of the game added to Newtown’s problems.

The Jets went into this match with a substantially different team line-up to that of the previous weekend. Several Cronulla NRL players who had reinforced the Jets in round one were on duty with the Sharks in Canberra, plus there had been other team changes due to injury and suspension.

Newtown began Saturday’s game in great style with front-rower Kurt Dillon scoring under the posts in the second minute, on the back of an elusive midfield dash by hooker Manaia Cherrington. Mounties quickly seized the ascendancy and went into halftime with a 24-10 lead. The Jets tackling in their own quarter had been fragile and the powerful Mounties forward pack took full advantage of these defensive lapses.

The Jets scored the first try of the second half and proved they had the attacking ability to challenge the Mounties defence, but the home team added another four tries to hand out a trouncing. Newtown scored five tries against a team that is likely to be one of this competition’s front-runners, but their poor decisions in defence presented Mounties with easy scoring opportunities. No doubt defensive drills will be an aspect of play that will be worked on doubly-hard at training this week.

Injuries during last Saturday’s game will definitely have some impact on the team’s future prospects. Halfback and playmaker Daniel Mortimer (knee), front-rower Malakai Houma (serious leg injuries that will probably sideline him for the season), and Kurt Dillon (back) all had to leave the field during the game.

The Jets are on the road again this Saturday, 18th March, when they travel to WIN Stadium, Wollongong to take on the reigning ISP NSW premiers, Illawarra. This round three match will commence at 3.00pm.

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
Sleeve

Schofield King Lawyers
Sleeve

Coverforce
Front of Shorts

The Henson
Back of Shorts

Sydney Park Hotel
Back of Shorts

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.