Newtown Rugby League Football Club celebrates its 108th birthday on Friday, 8th January 2016

The Jets will be 108 not out on Friday, 8th January – and they are now in the second year of their “Inner West Side Story” partnership with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

As the Jets enter their 109th season of Rugby League football, we should pay special tribute to those who kept the club alive during that heart-breaking period from when the club had been suspended from the NSW Rugby League in October 1983 to when the Jets joined the NSWRL Metropolitan Cup competition at the beginning of the 1991 season.

2016 marks 25 years since the Newtown RLFC re-entered the Rugby League playing ranks. We especially acknowledge the efforts of present-day officials Barry Vining and Terry Rowney who have been Directors of the Newtown RLFC since the early 1980’s, and who have played enormous roles in keeping the club alive. Their contributions are most certainly among the most significant in this club’s long and chequered history. As the former Newtown coach Harry Bath often said, “those who drink the water should always remember those who dug the well”.

Club memberships point the way to the future survival of the Newtown RLFC:

There is no better way for you, your family members and your network of friends to show your support for Australia’s oldest Rugby League club than by rejoining or by taking out a 2016 membership package. There is an excellent range of 2016 membership deals available for all budgets, including packages for all those Sydney-based fans who can get to every home game, and also for those loyal Jets supporters who live in regional NSW, interstate or overseas. Here is the link to all the information you’ll need about 2016 Newtown Jets memberships: http://www.newtownjets.com/jets-membership-2016/

Jaline Graham signs with the Newtown Jets:

The Jets have announced the signing of the highly-rated Canterbury-Bankstown utility back Jaline Graham. The former Auckland Rugby League and Bulldogs junior has been a stand-out performer with the Canterbury Bulldogs NSW Cup team in the past two seasons, and he can play at fullback, five-eighth and halfback. Jaline is 22 years old, 175 cms tall and weighs 85 kgs. Take a look at Jaline in action for the Bulldogs against the New Zealand Warriors in this 2015 NSW Cup semi-final on the 15th September at Belmore Oval: http://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2015/09/15/highlights_warriors_.html

Newtown’s sponsors for 2016:

The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte said that an army marches on its stomach. In similar fashion, a Rugby League club like Newtown depends enormously on its ability to attract sponsors. The following companies, organisations and individuals have committed to the Newtown RLFC for the 2016 season, and we are all very grateful for their assistance. Please give them your support in recognition of their generosity in helping to keep the Newtown Jets dream alive: SCU – More Generous Banking; Petersham RSL Club; Nifty Foods; The Vic on the Park Marrickville; City Ford Rockdale; Invisi-Gard; Botany View Hotel; Good Fellows Sports; Golden Barley Hotel; The Henson; Charles Bailey Urbane Property Newtown; Undercover Music; Terry Akkari Plumbing Solutions; Ilias Design Group; Randwick-Petersham Cricket Club; Deicorp; F45 Training Newtown; Young Henrys; Hawkins Butchery; Billy Elliott and Bobby Petersen; Select Music; Hardi Aged Care; Coverforce with more sponsors to be announced soon.

Here are the names of Newtown’s coaching and team staff for 2016:

Head Coach: Greg Matterson; Cronulla Sharks – Newtown Jets Coaching Liaison Officer: James Shepherd; Assistant Coaches: Jason Sharpe and Jason Hedges (ex-Cabramatta Sydney Shield coach); Strength and Conditioning Coach: Graeme Morris; Trainers: Jason Sharpe and Mick Azzopardi; Support Staff: Robert Simpson, John Trad and Corey Griffiths-Simpson; Physiotherapist: Luke Annesley; Massage Therapist: Mike Bailey; Doctor: Leanne Hutchison; Team Manager: Sam Mavrovelis; Statistician: Matthew Borg.

Upcoming Newtown RLFC events in 2016:

Monday, January 4th – Pre-season training resumed with Tuesday and Thursday sessions at Henson Park; Saturday, January 16th – NSWRL Semi Pro Day (Players & Staff). (This is an information day to be staged by the NSWRL); Saturday, February 6th – NSW Cup trial: Newtown Jets v North Sydney Bears at Henson Park (4pm kick off TBC); Saturday, February 13th – Sydney Roosters Junior Reps at Henson Park; Sunday, February 14th – NRL trial: Cronulla v Manly at Shark Park (Newtown players to play for Cronulla) (Kick off times to be announced); Saturday, February 20th – Sydney Roosters Junior Reps at Henson Park; Saturday, February 20th – NSW Cup trial: Wests Tigers v Newtown Jets at Campbelltown (kick-off tbc); Saturday, February 27th – Newtown Jets Rally Day at The VIC On The Park Marrickville (1.30pm – 5pm) (details to be finalised); Tuesday, March 1st (TBC) – Season Launch at the Petersham RSL (7pm for 7.30pm); Saturday, March 5th – NSW Cup Round 1: Newtown Jets v Canterbury Bulldogs at Henson Park (3pm).

The NSWRL VB NSW Cup draw for 2016 has been released:

Please note that Newtown now plays Canterbury-Bankstown at home at Henson Park in round one on Saturday, 5th March 2015 at 3.00pm.

The NSWRL VB NSW Cup Draw: http://bit.ly/1OmzFbs

The New Year is a great time to make your selection from the superb range of Newtown Jets clothing and merchandise, and you can make your selection and buy online from this link: www.newtownjetsclothing.com.au

The Newtown RLFC extends good wishes to Scott Dureau who has announced his retirement as a player. Scott made a big impression when he “guested” with the Newtown Jets in the second half of the 2014 season. Who will ever forget his winning field-goal against Penrith at Allianz Stadium in Round 19, 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA3hZ2mG3MY

The newly-appointed Queensland State of Origin coach Steve Walters features prominently as a member of the commentary team on this clip. And here’s more on Scott Dureau’s retirement plans: http://latestrugbyleague.com/2016/01/scott-dureau-retires-from-rugby-league/

Here’s a New Year quiz and the chance for you to win a quality Newtown Jets prize:

Newtown’s comeback game to Rugby League in the NSWRL Metropolitan Cup first grade competition was on Easter Saturday, 30th March 1991 at Erskineville Oval against Guildford.

The question is: Who captained Newtown’s first grade team on that day and who captained the Guildford first grade team?

All entries must be sent to this email address: jets@newtownjets.com

The first correct entry will be directly notified and will win a Newtown Jets t-shirt of their choice from the Jets merchandise range.

The winner will be announced on Newtown Jets Twitter: www.twitter.com/newtownrlfc and on Newtown Jets Facebook: www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc