Where the big men tussle: Jets front-rower Franklin Pele confronts a wall of Raiders defenders. Photo: David Napper
Where the big men tussle: Jets front-rower Franklin Pele confronts a wall of Raiders defenders. Photo: David Napper

Newtown’s loss on the chilly Monaro keeps the Jets in second place

Jets head coach Greg Matterson didn’t mince his words when he described Newtown’s away loss to the Canberra Raiders on Sunday as an extremely disappointing performance. The Jets went down 30-22 to the Raiders after trailing 20-4 at half-time, and then by 30-4 nearly midway through the second half.

Newtown’s loss meant they would not overtake Penrith on the NSW Cup competition table, even though the Panthers went down to the Dragons. At the completion of Round 13, Penrith still leads the competition on 20 points with Newtown second on 19, and with Canterbury, Parramatta and North Sydney all close behind on 18.

A barrage of Raiders tries, two just before half-time and two more early in the second half, proved to be the game-breakers at the GIO Stadium on Sunday.

No doubt Canberra’s freezing weather was of some consequence. It’s doubtful that the Jets had ever played in such bitter conditions in an away match in Canberra since joining the second-tier NSW Cup level of rugby league in 2000. The temperature at the GIO Stadium on Sunday was registered at 8 degrees celsius, with the wind chill factor reducing that figure down to 2 degrees. Light rain fell intermittently during the match which made for a slippery playing surface and handling difficulties.

The Raiders led 10-0 midway through the first half but Newtown looked to be back in the contest when winger Tyla Tamou dashed over in the corner in the 31st minute. The Jets were in real trouble when the Raiders scored two tries (through some rather half-hearted defence) in the last five minutes of the first half to take an authoritative 20-4 lead into the half-time break.

Newtown winger Tyla Tamou is pictured in full cry, with Jets centre Jensen Taumoepeau (left) matching strides with him. Photo: David Napper

The situation spun out of control for the visitors when the Raiders added a further two tries in the first fifteen minutes of the second half. Bearing in mind the difficult playing conditions, Newtown was not likely to run down a 30-4 deficit in the remaining 25 minutes.

Newtown did add three more tries to make the final scoreline of 30-22 slightly more bearable. Newtown front-rowers Tom Hazelton and Caleb Uele combined in fine style for Uele to burst across the try-line in the 67th minute; halfback Luke Metcalf scored a genuine “falcon try” in the 71st minute, despite the protestations of the Canberra players and crowd; and Luke Metcalf claimed his second try after Tyla Tamou had made a break up the right-side wing and threw a perfectly directed inside pass to the eagerly-supporting Metcalf.

Jets second-rower Reubenn Rennie takes on the Raiders defence, with Lachlan Miller (right) watching closely. Photo: David Napper

Club historian Terry Williams pointed out the gloomy historical reality that just over forty years before, on the 18th April 1982, the Canberra Raiders won their first-ever NSW Rugby League first grade fixture when they beat Newtown 12-11 at Seiffert Oval, Queanbeyan.

The Jets hit the road again next weekend when they play the Newcastle Knights at the McDonald Jones Stadium (Newcastle) on Sunday, 12th June at 1.05pm.

The famous Newtown colours and logo stand out on the GIO Stadium electronic scoreboard prior to the commencement of play (Canberra Raiders RLFC photo).

Sunday’s match details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – 13th Round
GIO Stadium, Canberra
5th June 2022
Canberra Raiders v Newtown
Kick-Off: 1.45pm.

Weather: Maximum 8, Minimum 2; light rain falling.
Playing surface: Excellent.

Canberra Raiders 30:
Semi Valemai 2, Elijah Anderson 2, Jordan Martin, Brad Schneider tries;
Brad Schneider 3 goals
defeated
Newtown 22:
Luke Metcalf2, Tyla Tamou, Caleb Uele tries;
Mawene Hiroti 2, Luke Metcalf goals.

Newtown’s team was:
Fullback: Lachlan Miller
Wingers: Samuel Stonestreet, Tyla Tamou
Centres: jensen Taumoepeau, Mawene Hiroti
Five-Eighth: Kade Dykes
Half-Back: Luke Metcalf
Lock: Liam Harris
Second-Rowers: Reubenn Rennie, Myles Lee-Taueli
Front-Rowers: Thomas Hazelton, Franklin Pele
Hooker: Jayden Berrell.
Interchange: Jesse Colquhoun, Rhys Davies, Caleb Uele, Tyler Slade.
18th man: Vincent Rennie.

Coach: Greg Matterson.

Canberra Raiders:
Fullback: Rayden Burns
Wingers: Utuloa Asomua, Elijah Anderson
Centres: Semi Valemai, Brad Morkos
Five-Eighth: Joshua James
Half-Back: Brad Schneider

Lock: Harry Rushton
Second-Rowers: Clay Webb, Jordan Martin
Front-Rowers: Emre Guler, Ata Mariota
Hooker: Adrian Trevilyan

Interchange: Mitchel Souter, Mitchell Spencer, Juwan Compain, Joshua Baker.
18th man: Sione Vuki
Coach: Joel Carbone.

Match Timeline:
8th minute: Jordan Martin try, Brad Schneider conversion.
Raiders 6-0.
22nd minute: Semi Valemai try, not converted.

Raiders 10-0.
31st minute: Tyla Tamou try, not converted.
Raiders 10-4.
35th minute: Elijagh Anderson try, Brad Schneider conversion.
Raiders 16-4.

39th minute: Semi Valemai try, not converted.

Raiders 20-4.

Half-Time: Canberra Raiders led 20-4.

44th minute: Elijah Anderson try, not converted.
Raiders 24-4.

55th minute: Brad Schneider try and conversion.

Raiders 30-4.
67th minute: Caleb Uele try, Mawene Hiroti conversion.
Raiders 30-10.
71st minute: Luke Metcalf try and conversion.

Raiders 30-16.

79th minute: Luke Metcalf try, Maweni Hiroti conversion.

Raiders 30-22.
Full-Time: Canberra Raiders 30 defeated Newtown 22.

Highlights of the Canberra Raiders v Newtown Round 13 NSW Cup match, courtesy of the NSWRL:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2022/06/05/nsw-cup-highlights-raiders-v-jets-round-13/

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Premiership Table after 13 rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=13&season=2022

Newtown’s next match details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – 14th Round
Sunday, 12th June 2022
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Newcasle Knights (9th place) v Newtown (2nd place)

Kick-Off: 1.05pm.

This photo of the Newtown RLFC players, staff, Directors and sponsors was taken at Henson Park on the day before the final home game for the 2024 season.  (Photo: Mario Facchini)

The Newtown Jets celebrate what was a magnificent year in the history of Australia’s oldest rugby league club

Newtown Jets 2024 Presentation Night Poster

2024 NEWTOWN RLFC NSW CUP PREMIERS PRESENTATION DINNER & AWARDS NIGHT

Newtown's giant front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha gets into stride as he carries the ball forward in Sunday's NRL State Championship Final. Photo: Mario Facchini / mafphotography

Second half errors prove costly as the Newtown Jets lose narrowly in the NRL State Championship Final

Barry Vining of the Jets celebrates after the preliminary final of the NSW Cup finals series game between the Newtown Jets and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney on September 23, 2012. Jets defeated Bulldogs 34-6. (Photo by Jason McCawley)

Vale Barry Noel Vining OAM

Image: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

Newtown Jets Team List v Norths Devils Sun 6th October, 2024 (NRL State Championship)

Newtown centre Mawene Hiroti crashes through the North Sydney defence to score a vital try for the Jets right on half-time. Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography

The Newtown Jets are the 2024 Knock-On Effect NSW Cup premiership winners, following a spine-tingling 28-22 win over North Sydney

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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.