Jets take on the front-running Roos this weekend

There have been plenty of changes to the Newtown Jets playing line-up due to injuries and mid-season transfers, and the boys face a tough task in playing away to the top of the table Wyong Roos. Just remember that throughout their 109 years of history, the men in royal blue have had a reputation for pulling off upset results on the most unexpected occasions.

NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – 17^th Round

Saturday, 1^st July 2017

Central Coast Stadium, Gosford

Wyong (1^st place, 29 points) v Newtown (11^th place, 13 points)

Kick-Off: 12.40pm.

This match will be televised live on Fox Sports (Fox League Channel) from 12.30pm.

Referee: Drew Oultram. Touch Judges: Ben Teague and Darian Furner.

Newtown (subject to probable change):

Leigh Higgins, Edrick Lee, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga, Jesse Ramien, James Tuitahi, Tyla Tamou, Penani Manumalealii, Kurt Dillon, Kurt Kara, Jaimin Jolliffe, Kenny Niko, Jack Williams, Jayden McDonogh.

Bench: Tepatasi Fuiavailili, Jordan Galloway, Ben Martinez-Murray, Saulala Houma, Alec Bush, Blake Judd.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Wyong:

Luke Sharpe, Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, Brendan Frei, Matthew Ikuvalu, Josh Mantellato, Kauri Aupouri, Mitchell Cornish, Eloni Vunakece, Mitchell Williams, Lindsay Collins, Justin Toomey-White, Chris Smith, Liam Knight.

Bench: Brendan Santi, Grant Garvey, Poasa Faamausili, Jake Lewis.

Coach: Rip Taylor.

Kurt Dillon was named as captain of the NSWRL ISP NSW team of the week for Round 16, despite being in a losing team last weekend. Kurt is having an outstanding season and is right on track for bigger things in his rugby league career.

Here is the full team: http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/06/29/isp_nsw_team_of_the_.html

Here are the NSWRL previews of all the ISP NSW 17^th round matches:  http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2017/06/30/previews_isp_nsw_rou.html

Centre and winger Reubenn Rennie might be a late inclusion in tomorrow’s Newtown Jets team to play Wyong. He is a Cook Islands international and was formerly with Otahuhu (NZ), Melbourne Storm, Canterbury-Bankstown and Mounties. He is 21, stands at 181 cm and weighs 99 kg.

Here are the match statistics from last Saturday’s narrow loss to Wests Tigers: http://www.nswrl.com.au/content/dam/nswrl/documents/isp-stats-reports-2017/Rd16-JetsTigers.pdf

Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga made a strong debut for Newtown against Wests-Tigers at Henson Park last Saturday.

He is on loan from the Cronulla Sharks Holden Cup squad.

Bessie is 20; 181 cm; weighs 91 kg and is a goal-kicker.

He is Samoan-born and was previously with Mounties and St George-Illawarra.

Lane Ferling is likely to be on loan from the Cronulla Sharks Holden Cup squad as well.

He plays at halfback and five-eighth; 19; weighs 88 kg.

Previously played with the Kingaroy Red Ants (Queensland) and Northern Suburbs Devils (Queensland) clubs and has represented Australian Universities in rugby league.