Newtown Jets celebrate one of the greatest years in their long history

The Newtown Jets held their Victories Dinner and Presentation Night at the Petersham RSL Club on Tuesday evening, 26^th November.

A big crowd filled the club auditorium to pay tribute to what has been a year of extraordinary achievements for the oldest club in rugby league.

The Jets won the NSWRL Canterbury Cup NSW Grand Final and the NRL State Championship Final, with both titles being won in the most frenzied and thrilling of circumstances.

Special guests included Jo Haylen MP (State Member for Summer Hill), David Trodden (NSW Rugby League CEO) and representatives of the club’s major sponsoring organisations.

The prize winners on the night included:

Best and Fairest (Brian “Chicka” Moore Shield) – Jaimin (Jimmy) Jolliffe

Fred Daly Memorial Shield – Siosifa Talakai

Coach’s award – Sione Katoa

Leading try-scorer – Will Kennedy – 16 tries

Leading points-scorer – Braydon Trindall – 184 points (9 tries, 74 goals)

Best back – Will Kennedy

Newtown RLFC Members’ Player of the Year – Billy Magoulias

Most consistent player – Billy Magoulias

Players’ Player – Scott Sorensen

Special long service award – Matt Evans

Club Person of the Year – Greg Matterson

The latter award bears some elaboration. Matterson coached Newtown’s Jim Beam Cup team (now known as the Ron Massey Cup competition) in 2005 and 2006. He has been the Newtown club’s head coach since 2008, and teams under his tutelage have won second-tier premierships in 2012 and 2019; made grand finals in 2008 and 2018; a preliminary final in 2016; and the semi-finals in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. He has committed to be the Jets’ head coach again in 2020, Newtown’s 113^th season in rugby league football.

The NSW Rugby League CEO David Trodden praised the Newtown club for its contribution to the rugby league game over so many years, and he noted the club’s ability to draw large home crowds and to continually stage innovative home game occasions at Henson Park. He made the observation that the Newtown club “transcends victory and defeat” and that the club holds a special place in our game’s history and folklore.

The Newtown Jets are back in training for the 2020 season (their 21^st season since re-entering the second-tier level of rugby league football back in 2000). New signings and player movements will be advised in future news bulletins.