Match details
5.00 pm, Sunday, 10 February 2013
Belmore Oval, cnr Myall Ln & Edison Ln, Belmore
Staff & players gallery
Match report
One of Rugby League's oldest local derbies was revived on Sunday afternoon at Belmore Sportsground, when the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs hosted the Newtown Jets in a first grade trial match. The Bulldogs were returning to Belmore as the 2012 NRL Grand Finalists, while the Jets entered the 2013 season as the reigning VB NSW Cup premiers.
The Bulldogs fielded a composite NSW Cup trial squad in the first two quarters of the game while the Jets gave all of their triallists extended game time in the first half.
Canterbury showed more cohesion and individual skills in the opening forty minutes, running in five tries to lead 22-4 at half-time. The Newtown coaching staff would have been pleased to see NSW Cup regulars Khalid Deeb and Ryan Verlinden both make successful returns to the playing field after season-ending leg injuries in 2012.
The second half saw the Bulldogs field eight members of their 2012 NRL Grand Final squad plus their high-profile new signing Tony "T-Rex" Williams.
Newtown turned out a mixture of several members of their 2012 premiership team, a few members of the Roosters full-time squad as well as graduates from last year's Roosters Toyota Cup squad.
The second forty-minutes was an excellent contest and was regarded as being more than satisfactory by both clubs' coaching staff. The Jets held a very strong Bulldogs line-up to 14-10 (three tries to two) in the second half and both sides turned on quality football for the crowd of just under 5,000.
Former Roosters under 20's players Dean Blackman, Paul Rokolati and Chris Taripo were Newtown's try-scorers and new Jets signing Matt Mundine kicked a goal.
Newtown's next trial match is against Wests Tigers at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, 23rd February, with this match timed for kick-off at 3.00pm.
Newtown 14 [Dean Blackman, Paul Rokolati, Chris Taripo tries; Matt Mundine goal]
Canterbury-Bankstown 36 [8 tries; 2 goals.
Half-Time: Canterbury-Bankstown led 22-4
Browse moment-by-moment game action and game highlights in Gary Sutherland's photo gallery.
A reminder
Newtown's next trial match is against Wests-Tigers at Allianz Stadium Saturday, 23 February 2013 at 3.00pm.
Newtown trial squad
As in all pre-season trials, a number of players are contesting positions for the 2013 Newtown Jets squad.
Jersey numbering will often be determined by available jerseys and 'player size' but are listed in brackets to help you recognise the players on the field.
Some of the players listed represented the Roosters in the Under 20s in 2012 - bolded, red - and a few, like Usaia O'Sullivan and Dylan Napa played one or two games for the Jets last year.
Some of the 2012 'Jets heroes' who were part of the 2012 finals campaign - Ahmad Ellaz, Andrew Pearn, Adam Henry, Isaac Liu, Brad Barrett, Josh Ailaomai, Saulala Houma and Kurt Kara - are listed and our captain, Khalid Deeb, returns now recovered from the knee injury that cost him half the 2012 season.
Ryan Verlinden is also back on the field after spending most of 2012 on the sidelines as well as two players who served Newtown well in past seasons, Ray Moujalli and Donny Thompson.
First Half
Donny Thompson [18],
Reece Jaeger [24], Fetongi Tuinauvai [1]
Ryan Verlinden [17], Tuki Jackson [21]
James Trotter [3], Metaika Vatuvai [15]
Ahmad Ellaz [16]
Andrew Pearn [14], Nick Ehsman [22]
Khalid Deeb [20], Ray Moujalli [23]
Dean Blackman [19].
Bench
Max Napa [8], Jason Thompson [12], Adam Henry [13], Daniel Cray [26]
Second half
Chris Taripo [1]
Paul Rokolati [2], Mitch Stevens [5]
Ivan Penehe [3], Usaia O'Sullivan [4]
Matt Mundine [6], Ben Jones [7]
Isaac Liu [13]
Brad Barrett [12], Josh Ailaomai [11]
Dylan Napa [10], Saulala Houma [8]
Kurt Kara [9]
Coach: Greg Matterson
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