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

Newtown’s hopes of another titles double, as was achieved in 2019, were dashed when the Jets lost narrowly to the Norths Devils (aka Northern Suburbs, Brisbane) by 20-18, in the NRL State Championship Final played at Accor Stadium on Sunday.

Newtown had won the NSW Cup Grand Final against North Sydney and were aiming at the prestigious double of taking out the end-of-season showdown with the 2024 Queensland Cup premiers.

Sunday’s warm conditions no doubt would have suited the tropical climate Queenslanders, and Newtown’s error rate in the second half meant they had to do a lot of tackling at their own end of the field.

The Norths Devils came to Sydney with a reputation for well-organised attacking sorties and for very aggressive defensive play. The visitors scored in the fifth minute and led 6-0.

Newtown’s only change from the team that had won at CommBank Stadium on the previous Sunday was the absence of the very capable centre Mawene Hiroti, and his replacement was Jackson Ferris, who had scored the winning try in the 2019 NRL State Championship Final. Five-eighth Khaled Rajab had passed a fitness test late in the week to take his place in the Newtown team line-up.

Both Rajab and Ferris went close to scoring in the first fifteen minutes, and Newtown used a Captain’s Challenge early in the first half.

The Jets fullback Liam Ison was proving to be up to the task in fielding the opposition’s high kicks, and he made a thrilling kick return in the 16th minute; then he linked up with winger Sam Stonestreet and centre Chris Vea’ila, then back to Stonestreet who scored an exhilarating try with the ball having been carried some 90 metres from where Ison had caught the high kick.

This try drew great praise from the Channel 9 commentary team, with Phil Gould describing the try as being a wonderful example of turning defence into attack, and Darren Lockyer comparing Ison’s elusiveness and his clever interchange of passes with Stonestreet as being similar to the great Queensland State of Origin fullback Billy Slater.

There were a number of outstanding moments in the first half, with both Liam Ison and winger Tom Rodwell fielding high kicks safely while looking directly into the glaring overhead sun.

Jackson Ferris left the field in the 21st minute due to a severe facial injury, and Liam Ison had made it across the line only for the Bunker to deny the try. Minutes later front-rower Braden Hamlin-Uele broke through the Devils defensive line and although ankle-tapped, the big fellow unloaded a perfect back of hand flick pass for halfback Niwhai Puru to score. This was classy work by the front-rower who was one of Newtown’s best forwards on the day.

Newtown’s high-performance hooker Jayden Berrell, who had been the Queensland Cup player of the year in 2021, was in top form on Sunday. In the 28th minute he made a magnificent try-saving tackle on the Norths fullback who had beaten three defenders and had set sail for the tryline. Berrell’s breathtaking cover-defending tackle brought back memories of the try-saving tackle made by Penrith’s Scott Sattler on the Sydney Roosters winger Todd Byrne in the 2003 NRL Grand Final.

The Jets took advantage of a Norths dropped ball with Jayden Berrell, Sam Healey, Niwhai Puru and Chris Vea’ila turning on a high speed, expertly-executed set piece to the right side that gave Sam Stonestreet the definitive “saloon passage” to the corner. Despite only one of Newtown’s three first-half tries being converted, the Jets led 14-6 with halftime fast approaching.

The Jets looked like scoring again, only to be pulled up for a knock-on at dummy-half. Channel 9’s Phil Gould was doubtful as to whether the Newtown player at dummy-half, the New Zealand Warriors-bound Sam Healey, had actually knocked on.

Two more Newtown knock-ons and a penalty gave Norths valuable field position late in the first half, and some polished ball play saw the Norths fullback run in to score to the left of the goal posts. In the context of this game, that try right on halftime was a grievous blow to Newtown. This (admittedly well-constructed) try in the shadows of halftime gave the northern visitors the points platform and psychological boost they needed going into the second half.

Phil Gould made the halftime observation that the Devils had been marginally better organised and more dangerous when in possession despite Newtown’s three first half tries.

Newtown made an excellent start to the second half when Healey, Rajab and Ison all combined with quick hands to send Stonestreet over for his third try. Newtown now led 18-10 and should have been well-positioned to take control of the game but …

The Jets’ error rate was keeping Norths in the game. Phil Gould noted that Newtown were defending well at their own end – and that they needed to, what with their propensity towards basic errors like allowing a Norths kick-off restart to bounce out, as well as losing the ball in a one-on-one strip. Cameron Smith, another well-informed Channel 9 commentator, predicted 25 minutes out from fulltime that “whichever team managed to put together a succession of sets of possession would be very likely to win this game.”

It was apparent that Newtown could not maintain their workload of doing the lion’s share of the tackling in the second half heat, and that they would pay dearly for finding ways to keep handing possession over to their opponents. The head injury to Jackson Ferris had necessitated a juggling of who was playing in the backline positions, with no specialist backline player having been on the Jets bench.

Brisbane Norths came right back into the game when their strong-running backrower burst past tired defenders to run around and score under the posts, for the Devils to trail 18-16 with more than twenty minutes left in the game.

The Jets had made a habit of hanging on in tight finishes in recent weeks, such as against the Canberra Raiders in the Preliminary Final and against the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup Grand Final. There were tell-tale signs that the Jets defence was starting to show signs of wear and tear and that Norths appeared to be more energised.

Newtown received a penalty at Norths end because of alleged obstruction on a Jets defender. Newtown opted to take a tap 15 metres out from the Devils tryline, rather than take the penalty goal option. Newtown then lost the ball in the ensuing set!

Norths gained possession at Newtown’s end after a Jets player had lost the ball forward after being hit very hard by a Devils tackler. In the following set, a Norths centre crossed the tryline but was sensationally held up by Jayden Berrell and Niwhai Puru, with the all-seeing Bunker ruling no try. Puru’s initial one-on-one tackle on the strongly-built Norths centre was a tremendous individual tackling effort. Berrell showed enormous defensive nous in forcing his arms underneath the ball-carrier to prevent the Devils player from grounding the ball.

Six minutes out from fulltime, a Norths player was tackled and lost the ball, but the referee ruled that a Newtown player had initially knocked the ball forward. Cameron Smith commented: “This is the sort of lucky moment that could decide the outcome of the game.”

In the set that followed, Norths ran the ball on the last tackle and the hard-running Devils backrower beat three tacklers to score. Norths now led 20-18 with five minutes left to play.

There was high drama in this game right to the finish, with a contentious ruling being made in the last minute while Newtown were in possession at Norths end of the field. Channel 9 replays showed that Jayden Berrell had not knocked the ball on while picking it up from dummy-half and that the actual play the ball passed muster. Newtown’s right to a Captain’s Challenge had been used up in the first half.

To sum up the outcome of the game, Newtown had made too many errors in the second half, plus the cruel burden of the unusually warm conditions and the reshuffled backline (Sam Stonestreet had left the field for a HIA in the 70th minute) all contributed to the Jets loss. Their supporters were on the edge of their seats daring to hope there might be a miraculous last-minute victory as had occurred in 2019 – but it was not to be on this occasion. Newtown had been held scoreless for the last 35 minutes of the match and the Norths Devils had taken their opportunities in the game’s final quarter.

Jayden Berrell turned on a truly outstanding performance, and no doubt Jets and Sharks supporters will be pleased to know that he has signed on again for the Cronulla-Sutherland club in 2025.

Braden Hamlin-Uele was the best front rower on the field and backrower (and centre) Kyle Pickering clocked up 48 tackles. Niwhai Puru had been involved in the making of two tries, had scored one himself as well as saving one late in the second half. Sam Stonestreet’s three tries gave clear evidence as to what a quality winger he is. Tom Rodwell and Liam Ison provided a faultless display of catching high kicks in difficult conditions – in fact they had a 100% record of defusing the opposition’s soaring kicks in Sunday’s game. Rodwell also ran 248 metres with the ball.

A Minute’s Silence was conducted at Accor Stadium on Sunday prior to the NRL State Championship match for the late Barry Vining OAM, the President of the Newtown RLFC from 1986 to 2018.

NRL State Championship Final
NSW Cup Premiers v Queensland Cup Premiers

Sunday, 6th October 2024
Accor Stadium (Stadium Australia)
Newtown v Northern Suburbs, Brisbane (Norths Devils)
Kick-Off: 1.20pm.
This match was televised live on Nine and Fox Sports.

Weather: 26 degrees, fine, partly cloudy

Playing surface: Excellent.

Referee: Liam Kennedy
Touch Judges: Jarrod Cole, Kieren Irons
NRL Bunker: Peter Gough.

Match Result:

Norths Devils 20:
Oryn Keeley 2, Jeremiah Simbikin, Jordan Lipp tries;
Jordan Lipp 2 conversions

defeated
Newtown 18:
Sam Stonestreet 3, Niwhai Puru tries;
Niwhai Puru 1 conversion.
Halftime: Newtown led 14-10.

Video clip: –

All the tries from the Newtown Jets v Norths Devils NRL State Championship clash:
https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/10/07/all-tries–jets-v-devils/

The Teams: –

Newtown:
Fullback: Liam Ison

Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Sam Stonestreet
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Jackson Ferris
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
Gold Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarak
Coach: George Ndaira.

Norths Devils:
Fullback: Jordan Lipp
Wingers: Blake Paskins, Manase Kaho
Centres: Tesi Niu, Jacob Gagan
Halves: Jack Wright, Jack Ahearn
Lock: Mason Teague
Second-Rowers: Oryn Keeley, Jeremiah Simbiken
Front-Rowers: Cooper Jenkins, George Fai
Hooker: Kierran Moseley
Interchange:

Zac McGuire, James Flack
Sam Elliott, Campbell Duffy

Concussion Substitute: Zach Brooks

Coach: Dave Elliott.

Match Timeline for 6th October 2024:

First half.

Newtown kicked off, running to the northern end.
4m45s: Jeremiah Simbiken try.
Converted by Jordan Lipp. Norths Devils 6-0.
7th min: Niwhai Puru 40/20
12m45s: Billy Burns on report for a dangerous tackle.
15th min: Video referee – Captain’s Challenge
Newtown Jets unsuccessful
16th min: Sam Stonestreet try
Converted by Niwhai Puru. 6-all.

24th min: Niwhai Puru try
Not converted. Newtown 10-6.
31st min: Sam Stonestreet try.

Not converted. Newtown 14-6.
39th min: Jordan Lipp try.
Not converted. Newtown 14-10.
Halftime: Newtown led 14-10.
Second Half.
Norths Devils kicked off.
46th min: Sam Stonestreet try.

Not converted. Newtown led 18-10.
55th min: Oryn Keeley try.
Converted by Jordan Lipp. Newtown 18-16.
71st min: Sam Stonestreet off, HIA

74m48s: Oryn Keeley try.

Not converted. Norths Devils 20-18.
Fulltime: Norths Devils 20 defeated Newtown 18.


Match Statistics, 6th October 2024:

Abbreviations: Newtown – N; Norths Devils – ND.

Player statistics:
Kyle Pickering (Newtown): 48 tackles
Tom Rodwell (Newtown): 248 run metres
Sam Stonestreet (Newtown): 3 line breaks.

Team Statistics:

Possession: N 49%, ND 51%
Time in possession: N 26m50s, ND 27m30s

Completion rate: N 73%, ND 80%
All runs: N 198, ND 210
All run metres: N 1794, ND 1998
Post contact metres: N 517, ND 681
Line breaks: N 6, ND 6
Tackle breaks: N 44, ND 47
Average set distance: N 42.7m, ND 49.9m
Kick return metres: N 106, ND 195
Average play the ball speed: N 3.27s, ND 3.33s
Offloads: N 10, ND 10
Receipts: N 420, ND 451
Total passes: N 233, ND 255
Dummy passes: N 28, ND 32
Kicks: N 21, ND 17
Kicking metres: N 605, ND 510
Forced drop outs: N 1, ND 0
Kick defusal: N 100%, ND 45%
40/40: N 1, ND 0
Bombs: N 6, ND 9
Grubbers: N 5, ND 2
Effective tackles: N 85.3%, ND 84.95%
Tackles made: N 354, ND 333
Missed tackles: N 47, ND 44
Ineffective tackles: N 14, ND 15
Errors: N 16, ND 9
Penalties conceded: N 5, ND 3
Ruck infringements: N 0, ND 1
On report: N 1, ND 2 Interchanges: 8 each
HIA: N 1, ND 0.