Jets

KOE NSW Cup Round 16

FRANK HYDE SHIELD

Sunday 22nd June 2025

3pm

 NORTH SYDNEY OVAL

Norths 2024 220
Newtown halfback Penani Manumalealii looks to evade a Wests Tigers defender at Henson Park last Saturday, with Jets team-mates Kurt Dillon and Jaimin (Jimmy) Jolliffe close by. Photo:
Michael Magee Photography
Newtown halfback Penani Manumalealii looks to evade a Wests Tigers defender at Henson Park last Saturday, with Jets team-mates Kurt Dillon and Jaimin (Jimmy) Jolliffe close by. Photo: Michael Magee Photography

Mid-winter blues descend on the Newtown Jets

The fortunes of the Newtown Jets took a turn for the worse at Henson Park last Saturday. The Jets lost 18-12 to Wests Tigers in their 16th round Intrust Super Premiership rugby league match, after the scores had been tied 6-all at halftime. This loss now puts the Jets in 11th place on the competition table.

Newtown lost their young five-eighth Luke Jurd prior to the kick-off when he was injured in the team’s pre-match warm-up session. Jurd would have been on debut for the Jets from the high-flying Cronulla Sharks Holden Cup squad.

Bad luck struck again straight after halftime when fullback Matt Evans, who has been in career-best form this season, suffered an arm injury and was finished for the day. In addition, giant forward Saulala Houma had a leg injury that restricted his time on the field.

Newtown took the lead in the 53rd minute when impressive young centre Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga scored in the south-western corner. Aufaga-Toomaga was also on debut for the Jets from the top of the table Sharks Holden Cup team.

The Jets were brought undone by a poor final twenty minutes when they made a lot of errors, had a poor completion rate and went desperately close to scoring on two occasions. Coach Greg Matterson summed up the tone of the afternoon when he observed that there had been no lack of effort and courage by his players, but repeated errors in the last twenty minutes and missed chances contributed to this narrow defeat.

Newtown’s best players on the day were front-rowers Kurt Dillon and Jeremy Latimore, fullback Matt Evans and centre Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga. The Newtown club said farewell to Henson Park crowd favourite Daniel Mortimer, who was in the crowd on Saturday prior to his departure this week to join the English Super League club Leigh.

The Jets next match is on Saturday, 1st July, when they play Wyong at the Central Coast Stadium at 12.40pm. This match is to be televised live on Fox Sports.

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v North Sydney Bears (Frank Hyde Shield) Sun 22nd June 2025

Dick Poole, the captain-coach of the undefeated Australian Rugby League World Cup team in 1957, is chaired from the SCG by Australian team-mates (from left to right): Kel O'Shea, Brian Clay, Norm Provan and Ken McCaffery. (NSWRL Media).

Farewell to the great Dick Poole

Jets backrower Blake Hosking powers through the Warriors defence to score in the first half on Saturday.  Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

The Jets narrowly beaten in hard-fought tussle with the top of the table Warriors

The Newtown Jets might have been off their game on Saturday, but they still retained the Tom Raudonikis Cup for 2025 by virtue of their better points for and against over the two games played against Western Suburbs this season. Glen Warner from the Australian Mutual Bank (one of the Newtown Jets best sponsors) is holding the trophy. Photo: Mario Facchini/mafphotography

Newtown Jets turn on a lacklustre performance in shock loss to Western Suburbs

Image: Harrison Tse

Newtown Jets Team List v Warriors Sat 7th June, 2025

Newtown second-rower Dylan Coutts (in the middle of the photo) is congratulated by his Jets team-mates after scoring in Saturday night's game against the Sydney Roosters. Coutts scored two tries in his debut appearance in the NSW Cup competition. (Photo: Mario Facchini / mafphotography)

The Jets surge back into winning form with a huge victory against the Sydney Roosters

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

Eclectic 365
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

Henson Park Hotel
Back of Shorts

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.