Newtown’s thrilling win over the Canberra Raiders puts the Jets into Sunday’s Grand Final against North Sydney

The Newtown Jets have won through to the 2024 NSW Cup Grand Final by narrowly defeating the Canberra Raiders 18-16 in the Preliminary Final played at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon, after having trailed 12-6 at halftime.

The Jets will take on the fellow 1908 NSWRL foundation club North Sydney in the Grand Final at CommBank Stadium (Parramatta) on Sunday, 29th September at 3.00pm. North Sydney had defeated Newtown 18-16 in the Major Semi-Final played on Sunday, 15th September.

Newtown and North Sydney last met in a senior rugby league Grand Final back in 1943, when Newtown defeated Norths in the first grade premiership title decider by 34-7. Frank “Bumper” Farrell captained the Newtown team and North Sydney had been led by Frank Hyde.

Saturday’s Preliminary Final had little resemblance to the Qualifying Final played two weeks ago, when Newtown had convincingly defeated the Raiders by 38-16. The Green Machine fielded a stronger team on Saturday, with several players from the Raiders NRL squad being available after the completion of Canberra’s NRL season.

The weather was a huge improvement on Saturday compared to the wintry conditions and roaring winds that had prevailed on the evening of the Major Semi-Final.

The Raiders began Saturday’s match with a lot of physicality in both attack and defence. The Raiders were under pressure at their own end of the field for most of the opening minutes, and they were clearly not in the mood to be ambushed like they had been two weeks earlier.

After gaining a repeat set at Newtown’s end, Canberra cut through some fragile defence to score. Given that this was the Raiders first visit to Newtown’s end, the relative ease with which this try was scored was ominous.

The Raiders scored their second try six minutes later to take a 12-0 lead. Newtown responded quickly, and on the back of a penalty due to Billy Magoulias being stripped of the ball in a tackle, Jayden Berrell darted over to score from dummy-half. Niwhai Puru converted and there were to be no more points scored between the 23rd minute and halftime.

The NSWRL TV commentary team members were of the opinion that it had been an exciting and absorbing first half with all the tension and spirited competitiveness worthy of a top level Preliminary Final. The penalties had favoured Canberra 4-3, although Newtown had better completions figures and had been inside Canberra’s half more often than the Raiders in Newtown’s territory.

The Raiders NRL coach Ricky Stuart was at the game on Saturday and was interviewed at halftime. He agreed that the Raiders had made a better start than in the Qualifying Final, but the second half of this game was there for the taking. Ricky made a point of praising the NSW Rugby League for the quality of the pathway competitions for junior representative teams and the NSW Cup, which the Raiders benefit from in terms of player development and the flow-through of young players.

The Raiders were penalised in the second minute of the second half, in what turned out to be an 8-1 penalty count to the Jets in the second forty minutes. The livestreaming commentators, along with this writer, were of the opinion that all the second half penalties were justified. The run of penalties certainly assisted the Jet in terms of possession and field position in the second half, even though they only cored one try in that period.

Newtown scored in the set of possession following their first penalty in the second half. Niwhai Puru had nearly sent Billy Magoulias over with a flat pass. The quick play the ball saw Jayden Berrell, Niwhai Puru, Kyle Pickering and Khaled Rajab all involved, with Rajab’s overhead pass to Chris Vea’ila freeing the centre to score in the south-western corner. Puru’s conversion from the sideline made it 12-all.

Five minutes later Puru kicked ahead and was taken off the ball, with the consequent penalty being awarded close to the posts. This penalty goal took Newtown to the lead for the first time in the game.

The Raiders in turn made use of a penalty and showed their potency in one on one tackling situations, when the powerful centre Schiller crashed over wide out. The try wasn’t converted, but Canberra now held a 16-14 lead. The Jets returned to the Raiders end on the back of two quick penalties. The second penalty was in kicking range but surprisingly Newtown opted to take a tap, with the attacking challenge then being turned away by the Green Machine tacklers.

A splendid 40/20 kick by the Raiders came to nothing when they lost the ball in the next set. Two more penalties for tackling offences took the Jets deep into Canberra’s territory, with Puru kicking another penalty goal to take the score to 16-all.

The run of penalties and Newtown’s lower error rate brought the Jets back into the Raiders red zone. Another penalty near the posts, on account of Liam Ison being back-slammed in a tackle and Schiller being put on report, resulted in Puru kicking his third penalty goal. Newtown now led 18-16, with seven minutes left to play.

The Raiders threw everything at the Jets in those final minutes, with the pro-Newtown crowd on the edge of their seats. A huge cut-out pass by the Raiders in the 77th minute that may well have led to a Canberra try was intercepted by Sam Stonestreet, who made good ground upfield but the cover defence was close enough to get to him. The Raiders didn’t get out of their half again and the Jets ran down the clock, earning themselves a place in the 2024 Grand Final.

For the total game, Newtown had a 57% share of possession with the Raiders having 43%; while Newtown had 84% completions and Canberra 71%.

There were plenty of celebrities in the crowd who would have enjoyed Newtown’s victory. Among those seen in the crowd at Leichhardt Oval on a sunny Saturday afternoon were members of Cronulla’s NRL squad, which included several members of Newtown’s 2019 premiership team; Newtown’s club Patron John Singleton and former Parramatta player Mick Cronin; Barry and Garth Wood; Johnny Lewis and Jeff Fenech; and the ever-popular Colin Murphy.

Newtown’s best players on the day had included Liam Ison and Tom Rodwell (who ran an amazing 231 metres); Khaled Rajab (who took a real pounding from the big Raiders forwards) and Niwhai Puru (who is in fine goal-kicking form); Blake Hosking, Billy Burns and Kyle Pickering for their defence, with Pickering clocking up 32 tackles; prop forwards Braden Hamlin-Uele and Tuku Hau Tapuha for making valuable metres through the middle; Sam Healey with several mesmerising dashes from dummy-half; and Jayden Berrell, once again a real ace in defence and dummy-half guile. Typical of Berrell’s devotion to his tasks was in the 32nd minute when he chased a long kick and single-handedly rounded up the very fast and elusive Raiders fullback.

This report also serves as a general call-out to Newtown supporters to round up their family members and friends to turn up in huge numbers to CommBank Stadium next Sunday. We don’t intend to surrender bragging rights to the North Sydney Bears supporters either on the scoreboard or in counting the number of club supporters who attend Sunday’s Grand Final!

Remember the unconquerable spirit of 1943! Get along to CommBank Stadium in big numbers to cheer the Newtown Jets home to victory!

Next Sunday’s game details are:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Grand Final
Sunday, 29th September 2024
CommBank Stadium (Parramatta)
North Sydney v Newtown
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
The match will be livestreamed on NSWRL TV.

The Match Details were: –
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Preliminary Final
Saturday, 21st September 2024
Leichhardt Oval
Newtown v Canberra Raiders
Kick-Off: 1.00pm.

Weather: Sunny, 23 degrees, occasional wind gusts.

Playing surface: Excellent.

Referee: Kieren Irons
Touch Judges: Tom Cambourn, Brad Kiehne
In-Goal Judges: Braden Hunt, Paul Eden.

The teams were: –

Newtown:
Fullback: Liam Ison
Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Sam Stonestreet
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Mawene Hiroti
Halves: Khaled Rajab, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Billy Burns (Captain)
Front-Rowers: Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tuku Hau Tapuha
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Jordin Leiu, Billy Magoulias, Sam Healey, Brad Fearnley
Concussion Substitute: Jordan Swann

Blue Shirt Trainer: Tom Haberecht
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Fletcher Graham
Orange Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarak
Coach: George Ndaira.

Canberra Raiders: –

Fullback: Chevy Stewart
Wingers: Mark Tuialii, Jed Stuart
Centres: James Schiller, Mitchell Spencer
Halves: Manaia Waitere, Adam Cook
Lock: Hohepa Puru (Captain)
Second-Rowers: Noah Martin, Simi Sasagi

Front-Rowers: Emre Guler, Trey Mooney
Hooker: Zac Woolford
Interchange:

Owen Pattie, Peter Hola, Jordan Martin, Peter Taateo
Concussion Substitute: Luke Webley
Blue Shirt Trainer: Corey Harawira-Naera

Yellow Shirt Trainer: Mick Howard
Orange Shirt Trainer: Claire Nicholls
Coach: Brock Shepperd.

The result was: –

Newtown 18:
Jayden Berrell, Chris Vea’ila tries;

Niwhai Puru 2 conversions, 3 penalty goals
defeated
Canberra Raiders 16:
Simi Sasagi, Hohepa Puru, James Schiller tries;
Adam Cook 2 conversions.

Half-Time: Canberra Raiders led 12-6.

NSWRL TV Highlights || NSW Cup || Preliminary Final 2024 || Newtown Jets v Canberra Raiders || Leichhardt Oval || Saturday, 21st September 2024:
https://www.facebook.com/KnockOnEffectCup/videos/841799238083801

The Newtown RLFC coach George Ndaira (accompanied by a couple of young guests) discusses the Jets’ Preliminary Final win against the Canberra Raiders:
https://www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc/videos/563752519408975/

Match Timeline: –

First half:
Newtown kicked off, running to the northern end of Leichhardt Oval.
13th minute: Simi Sasagi try.

Converted by Adam Cook. Canberra Raiders 6-0.
18th minute: Hohepa Puru try.

Converted by Adam Cook. Canberra Raiders 12-0.
23rd minute: Jayden Berrell try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Canberra Raiders 12-6.
36th minute: Adam Cook missed an attempt at penalty goal.
Half-Time: Canberra Raiders led 12-6.

Second Half:

Newtown running to the Keith Barnes Grandstand end (southern end).
41st minute: Jordan Martin (Raiders) on report for a dangerous tackle.
42nd minute: Chris Vea’ila try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. 12-all.
49m30s: Niwhai Puru penalty goal. Newtown 14-12.
55th minute: James Schiller try.
Not converted. Canberra Raiders 16-14.
63m50s: Owen Pattie (Raiders) 40/20 kick.
67th minute: Niwhai Puru penalty goal. 16-all.
72nd minute: James Schiller (Raiders) on report for a dangerous tackle.
73rd minute: Niwhai Puru penalty goal. Newtown 18-16.
75th minute: Goal-line dropout by Niwhai Puru (Newtown).
76th minute: Goal-line dropout by Niwhai Puru (Newtown)

79th minute: Braden Hamlin-Uele on report.

80th minute: Full-Time. Newtown 18 defeated Canberra Raiders 16.

Match Statistics: –

Abbreviations: Newtown (N), Canberra Raiders (CR)

Player Statistics:
Most tackles: Kyle Pickering – 32
Most run metres: Tom Rodwell – 231 metres
Most line breaks: Chris Vea’ila – 1.

Possession: N 57%, CR 43%
Time in possession: N 28 mins, CR 21m25s
Completion rate: N 84%, 37/44; CR 71%, 25/35
All runs: N 215, CR 157
All run metres: N 1839, CR 1449
Post-contact metres: N 675, CR 547
Line Breaks: N 4, CR 3
Tackle breaks: N 49, CR 35
Average set distance: N 41.8, CR 41.4
Kick return metres: CR 141, N 137
Average play the ball speed: CR 3.4s, N 3.43s
Passing offloads: N 9, CR 5
Receipts: N 428, CR 326
Total passes: N 234, CR 173
Dummy passes: N 43, CR 12
Kicks: N 20, CR 18
Kicking metres: N 565, CR 506
Forced dropouts: N 2, CR 2
Kick defusal: N 100%, CR 57%
40/20: CR 1, N 0
Bombs: CR 5, N3
Grubbers: N 5, CR 2
Defence: Effective tackles: N 85.5%, CR 84%
Tackles made: CR 323, N 247
Missed tackles: CR 49, N 35
Intercepts: N 1, CR 0
Ineffective tackles: CR 13, N 7
Negative play: Errors: CR 11, N 6
Penalties conceded: CR 11, N 5
Ruck infringements: CR 2, N 0
Inside 10 metres: CR 1, N 0
On reports: CR 3, N1Interchanges: N 8, CR 8

Newtown’s next match details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Grand Final
Sunday, 29th September 2024
CommBank Stadium (Parramatta)
North Sydney v Newtown
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

The match will be livestreamed on NSWRL TV.