Newtown Jets run up a big winning margin over the Newcastle Knights

After Newtown’s one-point victory against the Newcastle Knights in this season’s second round match at Henson Park, the Jets had no reasons to expect any favours in the return encounter up on the Hunter,

The first half was a tight contest, with the Jets leading 14-6 at halftime. Newtown took control in the second half , scoring five tries to one in running up a 40-12 winning margin.

Changes to Newtown’s team for this seventh round match included Josh Latham into fullback, Khaled Rajab returning from injury into five-eighth, both Tuku Hau Tapuha and Billy Burns back from the Sharks NRL squad and the crowd favourite ”Mad Max” Bradbury making his playing comeback after a long layoff due to knee surgery.

The Jets could not have made a worse start with the Knights scoring a soft try from dummy-half in the second minute, topped off by a conversion to give the Novocastrians an early 6-0 lead.

Newtown responded quickly with Niwhai Puru slicing through to score, following good lead-up work by Josh Latham and Eli Clark.

The Jets did not score again until the 20th minute when Niwhai Puru combined smartly with his team captain Billy Burns, with the big second-rower throwing a quite outrageous dummy as he strode through to score. The first half had been a tight struggle, but Hohepa Puru displayed some slick ball play to send his brother Niwhai racing over for his second try just prior to halftime.

Newtown in effect took control of the game with three tries in the first twelve minutes of the second half, with Billy Burns claiming his second try and Niwhai Puru running in for his third. The no-nonsense prop Max Bradbury scored from close range in running off a first-rate flat pass from Jayden Berrell, extending Newtown’s lead out to 28-6. Niwhai Puru’s off-day with the boot had prevented the Jets lead blowing out further. A converted try to the Knights midway through the second half kept the home team within striking distance.

Khaled Rajab showed some of his famed footwork when he put Kyle Pickering over to score, effectively ending the Knights fightback. Billy Burns displayed his chip-kick skills when he placed the ball perfectly for Eli Clark to score just prior to fulltime. Clark topped off his afternoon by converting his own try from the sideline.

Newtown’s first five tries had been scored by Niwhai Puru (three) and Billy Burns (two), followed by a further three shared between Max Bradbury, Kyle Pickering and Eli Clark. Three conversions by Niwhai Puru and one to Eli Clark took Newtown to a convincing 40-12 victory.

Newtown’s best players on the day had been Billy Burns, the two Puru brothers, and another masterclass display by Jayden Berrell, who initiated several of the plays that resulted in tries to Newtown. This was the description on the NSWRL website of Berrell’s performance in Sunday’s game: “Jayden Berrell was a constant threat, scheming around the ruck, ball playing out wide and taking on the line on multiple occasions. A try assist for Max Bradbury and penalties earned by his smart running game played a vital role in his side’s victory this afternoon.”  

It is also worthy of mention that the Knights halfback Jackson Hastings, who laid on a great exhibition of ball distribution and a clever kicking game on Sunday, had made his NSW Cup playing debut with Newtown at Henson Park back in 2014. He has played 189 NRL and Super League matches since then, as well as representing Great Britain.

The Newtown Jets take on a fellow 1908 foundation club in Western Suburbs this coming Saturday, 26th April, at Lidcombe Oval at 2.00pm. This game is the first in the two-match Tom Raudonikis Cup series that is contested by the two clubs each year.

Match Details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

Round 7
Sunday, 20th April 2025
McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow
Newcastle Knights v Newtown
Kick-Off: 1.40pm.

This match was live-streamed on BarTV NSWRL.

Referee: Damian Brady
Touch Judges: Ben Teague, Martin Jones

Weather: Sunny, 26 degrees
Playing surface: Excellent

Video Clips:

George Ndaira’s post-match interview:
https://www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc/videos/1324771162146744

Newcastle Knights v Newtown NSW Cup match highlights:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2025/04/20/the-knock-on-effect-nsw-cup-highlights–round-seven—knights-v-jets/

The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table after 7 rounds:

https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=7&season=2025

 Niwhai Puru’s first try on Saturday:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1358289615409844

Kyle Pickering’s try on Saturday:
https://www.facebook.com/john.trad.391/videos/1191293915871294

 
Match Result:

Newtown 40:
Niwhai Puru 3, Billy Burns 2,

Max Bradbury, Kyle Pickering, Eli Clark tries;
Niwhai Puru 3, Eli Clark conversions
defeated
Newcastle Knights 12:
Fletcher Hunt, Paul Bryan tries;

Connor Votano 2 conversions.
Half-Time: Newtown 14 led Newcastle Knights 6

Sin Bin: Hohepa Puru (71st minute).

Team Lists:

Newtown:
Fullback: Joshua Latham
Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Eli Clark
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Michael Gabrael

Halves: Khaled Rajab, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Hohepa Puru
Second-Rowers: Jordin Leiu, Billy Burns
Front-Rowers: Tuku Hau Tapuha, Jesse Colquhoun
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa, Blake Hosking
Max Bradbury, Kyle Pickering
Concussion Substitute: Chris Slater-Raptis
Blue Shirt Trainer: tommy Haberecht
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Fletcher Graham
Orange Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarak
Game Day Doctor: Peadar Mac Suibhne

Head Coach: George Ndaira.

Newcastle Knights:
Fullback: Connor Votano
wingers: Logan Aoake, Wilson De Courcey
Centres: Fletcher Hunt, Taj Annan
Halves: Liam Sutton, Jackson Hastings
Lock: brock Greacen
Second-Rowers: Francis Manuleleua, Elijah Salesa-Leaumoana

Front-Rowers: Cody Hopwood, Paul Bryan
Hooker: Matt Arthur
Interchange:
Will Sullivan, Callan Burgess
Jacob Davis, Mason Teague
Concussion Substitute: Blake Woodford
Blue Shirt Trainer: Mat Craig
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Wayne Humphrey
Orange Shirt Trainer: Blake Harrington
Game Day Doctor: Ian Jeffrey

Head Coach: Michael Dobson.

Match Timeline:
First Half:
Newtown kicked off, running to the northern end.

2nd minute: Fletcher Hunt (Knights) try

Converted by Connor Votano. Knights 6-0.
7th minute: Niwhai Puru try
Not converted. Knights 6-4.
20th minute: Billy Burn try
Not converted. Newtown 8-6.
34th minute: Niwhai Puru try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 14-6.
Half-Time: Newtown 14 led Newcastle Knights 6.
Second Half:
Newcastle Knights kicked off, running to the northern end.
42nd minute: Billy Burns try.
Not converted: Newtown 18-6.
45th minute: Niwhai Puru try.
Not converted: Newtown 22-6.
51st minute: Max Bradbury try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 28-6

57th minute: Paul Bryan (Knights) try
Converted by Connor Votano. Newtown 28-12.
62nd minute: Kyle Pickering try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 34-12.
71st minute: Hohepa Puru sin-binned.

77th minute: Eli Clark try.

Converted by Eli Clark. Newtown 40-12.
Full-Time: Newtown 40 defeated Newcastle Knights 12.
Hohepa Puru (Newtown) was sin-binned in the 71st minute.
Both teams made 8 interchanges.

Match Statistics: –
Player Statistics:
Most tackles by a Newtown player – Hohepa Puru – 28

Most metres run by a Newtown player – Niwhai Puru – 151
Most line breaks by a Newtown player – Michael Gabrael – 2.

Team Statistics:
(Newcastle Knights – K; Newtown – N)
Possession: K 45%, N 55%
Time in possession: K 21.46, N 26.47.
Completion rate: K 73%, 28/38; N 73%, 33/45.
All runs in attack: K 153, N 210
All metres run: K 1104, N 1785
Post contact metres: K 420, N 488
Line breaks: K 2, N 9
Tackle breaks: K 30, N 35
Average set distance: k 29, N 39.7
Kick return metres: K 60, N 227
Average play the ball speed: K 3.36, N 3.63

Offloads: K 3, N 10
Receipts: K 369, N 429
Total passes: K 207, N 230
Dummy passes: K 4, N 8
Kicks: K 21, N 15
Kicking metres: K 645, N 338
Forced drop outs: K 1, N 0
Kick defusal: K 62%, N 33%
Bombs: K 4, N 5
Grubbers: K 3, N 4
Effective tackles: K 86.1%, N 88.7%
Tackles made: K 334, N 260
Missed tackles: K 35, N 30
Intercepts: K 1, N 0
Ineffective tackles: K 19, N 3
Errors: K 13, N 15
Penalties conceded: K 7, N 3
Ruck infringements: K 1, N 3

Inside 10 metres: K 1, N o
On report: K 2, N 1
Sin Bins: K 0, N 1

Interchanges made: K 8, N 8.

Next match details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 8
Saturday, 26th April 2025
Lidcombe Oval
Western Suburbs v Newtown
Kick-Off: 2.00pm.
This match will be live-streamed on BarTV NSWRL

It is also the first match in the 2025 Tom Raudonikis Cup series, contested on an annual basis between the Newtown and Western Suburbs clubs.