Jets

NRL State Championship

Sunday 6th October

1:20pm

 Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park

Norths Devils 220
This Wests Magpies player is well dealt with by (from left): Sam Healey, Toby Rudolf, Jordin Leiu and Braden Hamlin-Uele. Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography
This Wests Magpies player is well dealt with by (from left): Sam Healey, Toby Rudolf, Jordin Leiu and Braden Hamlin-Uele. Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

Jets take the two points, but there was room for improvement in the second half performance

The Newtown Jets royal blue jerseys make a striking image as the Jets players come off the Henson Park playing field having completed their pre-match warm-up session. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

The Western Suburbs Magpies made Newtown work hard for their victory in the NSW Cup 18th round match played at Henson Park on Saturday.

The Jets won 32-24, after leading 20-6 at half-time. There were periods of the game where Wests had the upper hand – in the middle of the first half the Magpies had an extended period of attack at Newtown’s end of the field, and they outscored the Jets 18-12 in the second half.

It is worth noting just how many Newtown players were unavailable on the weekend due to injury, suspension or other reasons – names like Kade Dykes, Sam Stonestreet, Mawene Hiroti, Jackson Ferris, Brad Fearnley, Jayden Berrell, Billy Burns and Max Bradbury make a formidable roll-call of absent players.

Cronulla NRL forwards Braden Hamlin-Uele and Toby Rudolf were both made available for Newtown selection for Saturday’s match, along with the Sharks Jersey Flegg Cup winger (and Greek rugby league international) Siteni Taukamo who made his NSW Cup competition match debut with Newtown on Saturday (he had previously played with Newtown in a NSW Cup trial match in February).

Newtown Jets forward Toby Rudolf on the charge towards these two Wests Magpies defenders. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

The Jets began Saturday’s must-win assignment in the best possible way, scoring two tries and a conversion in the opening ten minutes. The first try was scored by the hard-running back-rower Kyle Pickering, with Sam Healey, Niwhai Puru (who was the team captain on Saturday) and Khaled Rajab all involved in sending Pickering across the try-line.

The impressive Jesse Colquhoun, who started the game at lock forward, crashed over to score just five minutes after Newtown’s first try.

The Lidcombe Oval boys brought plenty of firepower to the contest and Wests had repeated sets at Newtown’s end in the middle of the first half and they applied real pressure on Newtown’s defensive line for an extended period.

Newtown made valuable ground downfield on the back of winger Tom Rodwell catching a Wests high kick in his in-goal and sprinting through the Magpies defence after taking a quick tap. The ensuant favourable field position led to an outstanding try by Sam Healey, who threaded his way past several Western Suburbs defenders to score to the left of the posts. This try could well be a candidate for the Newtown Jets try of the year.

Newtown scored again the 34th minute when Khaled Rajab delivered a sizzling short pass that sent big Braden Hamlin-Uele steaming over wide of the southern end goal posts. It was interesting to note that all four of Newtown’s first half tries were scored by forwards.

An unforced error at Newtown’s end was punished by Wests scoring in the following set, with the half-time siren sending Newtown into the break with a 20-6 lead. NSWRL TV commentator Alby Talarico speculated as to whether there would be a second half comeback by Wests, as had happened with the grim result for Newtown at Wentworth Park on the previous weekend.

Wests were on the attack early in the second half but a badly-directed pass was snapped up by on-debut Jets winger Siteni Taukamo who sprinted ninety metres to score, with Puru’s conversion giving Newtown a commanding 26-6 lead.

One of the all-time great sights at Henson Park is watching a Newtown Jets winger sprinting clear from his opponents to score a try. Here’s Siteni Taukamo racing ninety metres to score a vital try against Western Suburbs. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

The Magpies came back into contention, with a try in the south-west corner that was very similar to Zac Lomax’s AFL-style try in State of Origin II. Minutes later Wests exposed some fragility in Newtown’s left-side defence when they scored again in the same corner to get within striking distance of the Jets at 26-14.

Newtown’s position became more imperilled when centre Chris Vea’ila was put on report and sin-binned , leaving the Jets short-handed to deal with the resurgent Magpies team. A veteran Wests official in the crowd was heard to remark that this incident could well be a game-changer!

The Newtown forwards responded to the challenge, driving the ball upfield through the middle. In the 61st minute the Jets had carried their attack into the Wests twenty-metre zone, and an attempted intercept by a Magpies player ricocheted into Jesse Colquhoun’s hands and the big forward plunged over under the posts. Puru’s conversion extended Newtown’s lead to 32-14 which was going to be hard to run down. Colquhoun nearly scored two more tries in the next five minutes that would have really wrapped up the result.

Niwhai Puru kicked what appeared to many spectators on the grandstand side to be a 40/20 but it was disallowed by the touch judge, bringing forth a volley of strong oaths from Jets supporters that was in the best traditions of a home game at Henson Park!

Wests scored two more tries late in the match to get within eight points of the Jets, and although Newtown seemed more likely to win this game, the scrappy second half performance probably caused some unease amongst Henson Park regulars.

Jets coach George Ndaira was impressed with Newtown’s first half and he mentioned the strong performances of Braden Hamlin-Uele, Toby Rudolf, Sam Healey and Jesse Colquhoun. Both halves Puru and Rajab had good games while Siteni Taukamo made a fine impression in his debut NSW Cup competition game appearance. Colquhoun had topped Newtown’s tackle count and scored two tries while Taukamo topped the “run metres” for the Jets.

Newtown Jets team captain Niwhai Puru is presented with the trophy by Tom’s granddaughter, Mackenzie Raudonikis. In the rear at left is Steve Russo (Newtown RLFC Social Media Manager) and on the right, Newtown RLFC Chief Executive Officer, Stuart McCarthy
Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

The Jets take on third-placed Canterbury-Bankstown on Saturday, 13th July at Henson Park at 3.00pm. This match will be live-streamed on NSWRL TV.

Match Details:

NSWRL Knock-On effect NSW Cup
Round 18
Saturday, 6th July 2024
Henson Park
Newtown v Western Suburbs
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Referee: Jake Sutherland
Touch Judges: Martin Jones, Ben Teague.

Weather: Overcast, light rain had fallen earlier in the day, 16 degrees.
Playing surface: Very good.

Match Result:

Newtown 32:
Jesse Colquhoun 2, Kyle Pickering, Samuel Healey,
Braden Hamlin-Uele, Siteni Taukamo tries;

Niwhai Puru 4 conversions
defeated
Western Suburbs 24:
Josh Feledy 2, Zakauri Clarke,
Alex Lobb, Jordan Miller tries;
Alex Lobb 2 conversions.

Half-Time: Newtown 20 led Western Suburbs 6.

The Newtown Jets players and staff and members of the Tom Raudonikis family display the Tommy Raudonikis Cup, won by the Newtown RLFC with their 32-24 win against Western Suburbs on Saturday. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

Newtown’s team:

Fullback: Liam Ison
Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Siteni Taukamo
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Jordan Swann
Halves: Khaled Rajab, Niwhai Puru (Captain)
Lock: Jesse Colquhoun
Second-Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Jordin Leiu
Front-Rowers: Toby Rudolf, Braden Hamlin-Uele
Hooker: Samuel Healey.
Interchange:
Blake Hosking, Rhys Dakin, Billy Magoulias, Joshua Cook
Reserve: Tyla Tamou.
Blue Shirt Trainer: Liam Richardson
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Fletcher Graham
Orange Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarek
Coach: George Ndaira.

The Western Suburbs team:
Fullback: Brent Naden
Wingers: Luke Laulilii, Alex Lobb
Centres: Solomone Saukuru, Joshua Feledy
Halves: Latu Fainu, Jayden Sullivan
Lock: Kit Laulilii

Second-Rowers: Tony Sukkar, Lachlan Broederlow
Front-Rowers: Tim Johannssen, Reuben Porter
Hooker: Tallyn Da Silva
Interchange:
Declan Casey, Zakauri Clarke, Jordan Miller, Cayne Nicholas
Reserve: Jimmy Ngutlik
Blue Shirt Trainer: Shannon Gallant
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Nathan Hamilton
Orange Shirt Trainer: Mark Mamo
Coach: Aaron Payne

The NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table after 18 rounds:

https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=18&season=2024

NSWRL TV Highlights || Round 18 || Newtown Jets v Western Suburbs Magpies || Saturday, 6th July 2024

https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2024/07/06/nswrl-tv-highlights–nsw-cup-jets-v-magpies—round-18

Newtown Jets head coach George Ndaira’s post-match comments:
https://x.com/newtownrlfc/status/1809860693983940813

Match Timeline:

First half:
Western Suburbs kicked off, running to the northern end.
3rd minute: Kyle Pickering try.
Not converted. Newtown 4-0.
9th minute: Jesse Colquhoun try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 10-0.
29th minute: Sam Healy try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 16-0.

33rd minute: Braden Hamlin-Uele try.
Not converted. Newtown 20-0.
37th minute: Zakauri Clarke try.
Converted by Alex Lobb. Newtown 20-6.
Half-Time: Newtown led 20-6.
Second Half:

45th minute: Siteni Taukamo try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 26-6.
49th minute: Alex Lobb try.
Not converted. Newtown 26-10.
55th minute: Josh Feledy try.
Not converted. Newtown 26-14.
58th minute: Chris Vea’ila on report; sin-binned.
61st minute: Jesse Colquhoun try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 32-14.
68th minute: Josh Feledy try.

Not converted. Newtown 32-18.
75th minute: Jordan Miller try.
Converted by Alex Lobb. Newtown 32-24.

Full-Time: Newtown 32 defeated Western Suburbs 24.



Match Statistics, Saturday, 6th July 2024:

Toby Rudolf: 33 tackles
Siteni Taukamo: 215 run metres
Jesse Colquhoun: 2 line breaks.

Possession: Newtown (N) 48%, Western Suburbs (WS) 52%
Time in possession: N 19.40, WS 21.35
Completions: N 72%, WS 81%
All runs: N 135, WS 137
Run metres: N 1416, WS 1280
Post contact: N 403, WS 390
Line breaks: N 5, WS 4
Tackle breaks: N 41, WS 40
Average set distance: N 38.20, WS 40.01
Kick return metres: N 150, WS 102
Average play the ball speed: N 3.35, WS 3.56
Offloads: N 9, WS 9
Receipts: N 284, WS 315
Total passes: N 145, WS 169
Dummy passes: N 25, WS 11
Kicks: N 12, WS 13
Kicking metres: N 257, WS 286
Kick defusal: N 67%, WS 60%
Bombs: N 3, WS 0
Grubbers: N 4, WS 3
Effective tackles: N 83.18%, WS 80.34%
Tackles made: N 277, WS 233
Missed tackles: N 40, WS 41
Intercepts: N 1, WS 1
Ineffective tackles: N 16, WS 16
Errors: N 15, WS 9
Penalties conceded: N 7, WS 5
Ruck infringement: N 0, WS 3
On report: N 1, WS 2
Sin bins: N 1, WS 0.



Newtown’s next game details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
19th Round

Saturday, 13th July 2024
Henson Park
Newtown (4th place) v Canterbury-Bankstown (3rd place)
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
This match will be live-streamed on NSWRL TV (subscription required).

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)

Newtown centre Mawene Hiroti crashes through the North Sydney defence to score a vital try for the Jets right on half-time. Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

The Newtown Jets are the 2024 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup premiership winners, following a spine-tingling 28-22 win over North Sydney

Image: Steven Russo

The Jets NEED you! 

Newtown greats Noel Mulligan & Frank 'Bumper' Farrell.

Newtown v Norths 1945 State Cup Final

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.