Newtown Jets run up a big win at home over near-neighbours Canterbury-Bankstown

Three tries to the dashing young fullback Liam Ison, seven conversions and a long-range penalty goal all kicked by halfback Niwhai Puru, and a commanding performance by the powerhouse front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha were all standout features of Newtown’s 44-18 win against Canterbury-Bankstown at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.

The first fine weather on a Saturday for several weeks enticed a reasonably-sized crowd to Henson Park for the much-anticipated clash between the third-placed Bulldogs and the fourth-placed Jets.

Newtown made a strong start when Jayden Berrell laid on a well-delivered short pass to the imposing Tuku Hau Tapuha, who wrestled and spun his way over next the southern-end goal posts.

Canterbury worked the ball towards Newtown’s end but a dropped pass then led to the Jets carrying the ball back through the middle. Berrell put Tuku Hau Tapuha into space in the midfield and the big fellow made an inspired charge downfield before off-loading to Liam Ison who scored next to the posts.

The Bulldogs responded in kind when they mounted an attack in Newtown’s twenty-metre zone, but they knocked on a high kick right on Newtown’s line.

Tuku Hau Tapuha once again made good ground through the midfield, putting Newtown in a good attacking position.  A high kick into the south-eastern corner was batted back by Tom Rodwell to Niwhai Puru, who sent a grubber kick into the in-goal where Berrell won the race to ground the ball. Tuku Hau Tapuha was impressing every time he handled the ball.

Tom Rodwell nearly scored in that same south-east corner but a pass was ruled marginally forward. The Bulldogs were fully capable of putting attacking pressure back on the Jets, but some wayward passing and handling errors undermined their progress.

When the Jets marched back to Canterbury’s end, Khaled Rajab (playing against his former club) threw a couple of slick dummies and darted past two Bulldog defenders to score Newtown’s fourth try.

Canterbury were quick to punish Newtown for an error at their own end and the Dogs scored their first try in the 32nd minute.

The Bulldogs made it back to back when they scored their second try in the space of three minutes and were now well and truly back in the contest, trailing by 24-12 three minutes out from fulltime.

Newtown’s goal-kicking halfback Niwhai Puru landed a powerful psychological blow when he kicked a towering 45 metres penalty goal from wide out, sending the Jets in to halftime with a 26-12 lead.

The Bulldogs showed they were “up for the fight” early in the second half with a couple of “bell ringer” tackles ferociously delivered by two of their biggest forwards.

Just as they had done in the first half, Newtown was forced to defend grimly on their own line for several sets during the third twenty-minute segment of the game.

Assisted by two penalties conceded in quick time by the Bulldogs, the Jets grafted their way up into Canterbury’s twenty-metre zone. A flurry of ball play close to the Bulldogs tryline ended in Sam Healey unloading a perfectly-flighted flat ball that enabled Billy Magoulias to crash over in the 60th minute. The NSWRL TV commentator described the try-scoring sequence as being “champagne ball service, topped off by the crafty Billy Magoulias being too strong so close to the line.”

Newtown was getting some second-phase play going and aided along by another penalty, the Jets were pressing the Canterbury defence on their tryline once again. The splendid Liam Ison claimed his second try when he shimmied and wriggled his way past several Bulldogs defenders for a try that virtually put Newtown in an impregnable position, leading 38-12 with only fifteen minutes left to play.

The Jets held out a couple of Canterbury sets at their own end but conceded a relatively soft try to the Dogs in the 75th minute.

It was probably fitting that Liam Ison should score Newtown’s final try for the afternoon, which he duly performed by catching a grubber kick by Niwhai Puru that had bounced off an upright straight into Ison’s hands.

Bear in mind that Niwhai Puru had converted all seven of Newtown’s tries, as well as kicking a long-distance penalty goal that came straight out of the Keith Barnes-Eric Simms goal-kicking playbook.

The former St Helens, Canterbury-Bankstown and North Sydney prop forward Merv Hicks was at Henson Park on Saturday, his first visit to the ground since 1972! Merv’s grandson Harry Hayes was playing for the Bulldogs and he clocked up an impressive 45 tackles during the game. Big Merv, a former Great Britain rugby league international, commented that Newtown had dominated much of the game and had been more effective whenever they were in possession at Canterbury’s end of the field.

The Jets had indeed turned on one of their best displays of the 2024 season, in front of a sizable crowd attracted no doubt by the prospect of a top four NSW Cup clash being played in winter sunshine.

Newtown coach George Ndaira observed that the Jets had shown they were very committed for this match and that “they got on the front foot early in the game”. He acknowledged the strong performances by Tuku Hau Tapuha, Jordin Leiu, Jayden Berrell and Liam Ison. With respect to Ison, Ndaira said that the young fullback had shown great energy and enthusiasm, as well as looking to link up with his team-mates.

George Ndaira stressed how important every game is in the latter rounds of the NSW Cup competition, with the quest for a place in the final five still open to about ten clubs.

The Jets travel away to the Hunter this coming Saturday, 20th July, when they will play the Newcastle Knights in the 20th round of the NSW Cup at McDonald Jones Stadium at 3.00pm.

Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 19
Saturday, 13th July 2024
Henson Park
Newtown v Canterbury-Bankstown
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
This match was livestreamed on NSWRL TV.

Weather: Sunny, mild, slightly cloudy, 16 degrees.

Playing surface: Excellent.


The Teams:
Newtown’s team was:
Fullback: Liam Ison
Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Siteni Taukamo
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Jordan Swann
Halves: Khaled Rajab, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Billy Magoulias
Second-Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Billy Burns (Captain)
Front-Rowers: Rhys Dakin, Tukupa-Ke Hau Tapuha
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Jordin Leiu, Blake Hosking, Sam Healey, Felix Fa’atili

Reserve: Jackson Ferris
Coach: George Ndaira

Canterbury-Bankstown:
Fullback: Joash Papalii
Wingers: Jeral Skelton, Jonathan Sua
Centres: Jordan Samrani, Eli Clark
Halves: Hayze Perham, Joseph O’Neill (Captain)
Lock: Lipoi Hopoi
Second-Rowers: Kitione Kautoga, Harry Hayes
Front-Rowers: Boaz Esaoroma Neli, Chris Patolo
Hooker: Romano Cook
Interchange:
Reuben Moyle, Liam Knight, Jack Underhill, Lachlan Vale
Reserve: Trentham Petersen
Coach: Mick Potter.

Match Result:
Newtown 44:
Liam Ison 3, Tuku Hau Tapuha, Jayden Berrell,
Khaled Rajab, Billy Magoulias tries;
Niwhai Puru 7 conversions, 1 penalty goal

defeated
Canterbury-Bankstown 18:
Eli Clark, Jonathan Sua, Jeral Skelton tries;

Eli Clark 3 conversions.
Half-Time: Newtown led 26-12.


NSWRL NSW Cup Highlights || Newtown Jets v Canterbury Bulldogs || Round 19 || Henson Park:

NSWRL NSW Cup || Competition Table After 19 Rounds:

Newtown’s very capable five-eighth Khaled Rajab is interviewed prior to his game on Saturday against his former club, Canterbury-Bankstown:

Newtown’s coach George Ndaira is interviewed following the Jets huge win at Henson Park over the Canterbury Bulldogs:
https://www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc/videos/1748233095706826

Match Timeline: –
First Half:
Newtown kicked off, running to the Sydenham Road end.
2 mins 50s: Tuku Hau Tapuha try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 6-0.
10th minute: Liam Ison Try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 12-0.
18 mins 50s: Jayden Berrell try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 18-0.
26 minutes 40s: Khaled Rajab try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru> Newtown 24-0.
31 minutes: Eli Clark try.

Converted by Eli Clark. Newtown 24-6.
34 minutes 30s: Jonathan Sua try.
Converted by Eli Clark. Newtown 24-12.
39th minute: Niwhai Puru long-distance penalty goal. Newtown 26-12.
Half-Time: Newtown led 26-12.
Second Half:
58 mins 30 s: Billy Magoulias try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 32-12.
63rd minute: Liam Ison try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 38-12.
73rd minute: Jeral Skelton try.
Eli Clark conversion. Newtown 38-18.
77th minute: Liam Ison try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 44-18.
Full-Time: Newtown 44 defeated Canterbury-Bankstown 18.


Match Statistics:
Top Newtown player statistics:
Kyle Pickering – 32 tackles;
Tom Rodwell – most run metres 168 metres;
Tuku Hau Tapuha – most line breaks 2.

Team statistics: –
Newtown (N), Canterbury-Bankstown (CB):
Possession: N 50%, CB 50%
Time in possession: N 22.32, CB 22.58
Completions: N 80%, CB 77%
All runs: N 175, CB 185
All run metres: N 1419, CB 1639
Post-contact metres: N 391, CB 449
Line breaks: N 6, CB 5
Tackle breaks: N 30, CB 13
Average set distance: N 40.5, CB 45.5
Kick return metres: N 87, CB 139
Average play the ball speed: N 3.4s, CB 3.3s
Offloads: N 12, CB 7
Receipts: N 357, CB 369
Total passes: N 196, CB 217
Dummy passes: N 23, CB 6
Kicks: N 15, CB 13
Kicking metres: N 499, CB 246
Kick defusals: N 62%, CB 60%
Bombs: N 2, CB 6
Grubbers: N 1, CB 3
Effective tackles: N 92.6%, CB 84.8%
Tackles made: N 275, CB 302
Missed tackles: N 13, CB 30
Intercepts: N 0, CB 1
Ineffective tackles: N 9, CB 24
Errors: N 8, CB 11
Penalties conceded: N 8, CB 8
Ruck infringements: N 1, CB 0
Inside 10 metres: N 2, CB 1
On report: N 0, CB 1
Interchange: N 8, CB 9.

Next game details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 20
Saturday, 20th July 2024
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Newcastle Knights (10th place) v Newtown (3rd place)
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.