The fired-up Wests Magpies make the Jets work hard for their win

Saturday’s match at Lidcombe Oval saw the second-placed Newtown Jets up against the twelfth-placed Western Suburbs Magpies – but the different positions on the competition table clearly didn’t influence the flinty Wests players approach to this game.

There was to be no doubt that the Magpies turned up ready to compete and to stake their claim for this year’s Tom Raudonikis Cup challenge series. Wests made Newtown fight all the way in this game and it was a converted try with only four minutes remaining to play that enabled Newtown to come away with a hard-earned 18-6 victory.

A selection of some of the match statistics shows where the Magpies dominated: Wests had 54% of possession for the game, a better completion rate, more time in possession, more time with the football in the opposition’s red zone, more tackle breaks and better kick defusal figures. What probably held the Magpies back was their relatively limited attack and their errors and penalties conceded. Where the Jets won this game was a strong defensive performance, particularly in defending on their own line, and making the best of the limited number of attacking opportunities that the Magpies allowed them.

There were no points scored in the first eighteen minutes until Wests scored a barging try after having hammered at Newtown’s tryline for an extended period.

The Jets responded through their lethal left side attack, with Jayden Berrell, Niwhai Puru and Kyle Pickering all involved in sending Newtown’s hot centre prospect Michael Gabrael over to score in the 25th minute. Niwhai Puru’s conversion from wide out gave the Jets a 6-4 lead. A penalty goal to the Magpies just prior to halftime sent the teams into the break locked together at 6-all.

The second half was colourfully described by an imaginative Jets supporter as being like “watching a knife fight!” Wests had certainly come into this match with a game plan to shut down Newtown’s attack and to defend with maximum commitment.

The Jets took the lead in the 51st minute with another well-constructed raid down their left side, featuring the splendid team captain Jayden Berrell, Niwhai Puru, Khaled Rajab (back from injury) and Michael Gabrael, who gave Eli Clark the chance to score in the corner. Niwhai Puru’s second sideline conversion edged Newtown ahead to a 12-6 lead.

Newtown had to defend in their own red zone for extended periods and Wests took the last quarter of the game right to the wire. Four minutes out from fulltime Jayden Berrell and Niwhai Puru combined cleverly to send the hard-working Braden Hamlin Uele (one of last year’s Grand Final try-scorers) running at an angle to crash over under the posts. Leading by 18-6, the Jets were able to play the remainder of the game out.

All the Newtown forwards deserve credit for their steadfast defence and their readiness to “knuckle down” to an unabashed hard grind against determined opposition.

Sadly, Jets fullback Kade Dykes suffered another serious knee injury, with the versatile Blake Hosking coming off the interchange bench to play in the centres, and Chris Vea’ila moving to fullback. Front-rower Max Bradbury took a knock to the head in the first half and fortunately was able to resume playing after being cleared of any head injury.

This Saturday’s Retro Round match at Henson Park brings together Newtown (still in 2nd place) up against the much-improved Parramatta (now in third place). This is in fact the only senior-level rugby league competition match being played in Sydney on Saturday afternoon, so weather permitting there should be a good attendance at Henson Park (Saturday, 3rd May at 3.00pm) for what will be a genuine test of where this Newtown team is going in the 2025 NSW Cup.

Next Saturday’s match details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round Nine

Saturday, 3rd May 2025
Henson Park
Newtown v Parramatta

Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Saturday’s curtain-raiser details:
NSWRL Jersey Flegg Cup
Round Nine
Saturday, 3rd May 2025
Henson Park
Cronulla Sharks v Parramatta
Kick-Off: 12.50pm.

Match Details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round Eight
Saturday, 26th April 2025

Lidcombe Oval
Western Suburbs v Newtown
Kick-Off: 2.20pm.

Weather: 24 degrees, humid, slight breeze

Playing surface: Excellent

Referee: Mitch Currie

Touch Judges: Martin Jones, Luke Saldern

Video Clips:

George Ndaira’s post-match interview:
https://x.com/newtownrlfc/status/1916385660665033079

Western Suburbs v Newtown Match Highlights:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2025/04/26/the-knock-on-effect-nsw-cup-highlights–round-eight—magpies-v-jets/

NSW Cup competition table after 8 rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=8&season=2025

Match Result:

Newtown 18:
Michael Gabrael, Eli Clark,

Braden Hamlin-Uele tries;

Niwhai Puru 3 conversions

defeated
Western Suburbs 6:
Izaac Tu’itupou try;

Kurt Falls 1 penalty goal.

Half-Time: 6-all.

Newtown’s team was:

Fullback: Kade Dykes
Wingers: Kristian Dixon, Eli Clark
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Michael Gabrael
Halves: Khalid Rajab, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Hohepa Puru
Second-Rowers: Jordin Leiu, Kyle Pickering
Front-Rowers: Braden Hamlin-Uele, Jesse Colquhoun
Hooker: Jayden Berrell (Captain)
Interchange:
Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa, Blake Hosking
Max Bradbury, Billy Magoulias
Concussion Substitute: Josh Cook
Blue Shirt Trainer: Liam Richardson
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Fletcher Graham

Orange Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarak
Game Day Doctor: Doctor Peader MacSuibhne

Head Coach: George Ndaira.

Western Suburbs:

Fullback: Heath Mason

Wingers: Izaac Tu’itupou, Krystian Mapapalangi
Centres: Simon Tito, Josh Feledy
Halves: Justin Matamua, Kurt Falls
Lock: Charlie Murray
Second-Rowers: Tony Sukkar, Elie El-Zakhem
Front-Rowers: Kit Laulilii, Jaxon Rahme
Hooker: Tristan Hope
Interchange:
Jayden Tanner, Reuben Porter
Noah Johannssen, Josaia Lovodua
Concussion Substitute: Bailey Hodges
Blue Shirt Trainer: Nathan Lakeman
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Mark Mamo

Orange Shirt Trainer: Jay McGuinness
Game Day Doctor: Doctor Danica Sardelich

Head Coach: Aaron Payne.

Match Timeline: –

First Half:
Newtown kicked off to the southern end.
18th minute: Izaac Tu’itupou try
Not converted. Wests 4-0.

25th minute: Michael Gabrael try
Converted by Niwhai Puru Newtown 6-4
36th minute: Kurt Falls penalty goal. 6-all.

37th minute: Max Bradbury (Newtown) HIA

Half-Time: 6-all.

Max Bradbury was cleared during the half-time break.
Second Half:
51st minute: Eli Clark try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 12-6.
76th minute: Braden Hamlin-Uele try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 18-6.
Full-Time: Newtown 18 defeated Western Suburbs 6.

Match Statistics:

Players’ statistics:
Most tackles: Jayden Berrell (Newtown) – 56 tackles
Most metres run: Michael Gabrael (Newtown) – 180 metres
Most line breaks: Braden Hamlin-Uele (Newtown) – 2.
Team statistics:
Possession: Wests 54%, Newtown 46%
Time in possession: Wests 29 mins, Newtown 25 mins.
Completion rate: Wests 75%, Newtown 70%
All runs made: Wests 181, Newtown 157Metres run; Wests 1490, Newtown 1414
Post contact metres: Wests 536, Newtown 469
Line breaks: Wests 2, Newtown 4

Tackle breaks: Wests 31, Newtown 25
Average set distance: Wests 40m, Newtown 41.5m
Kick return metres: Wests 101, Newtown 121

Total passes: Wests 239, Newtown 194
Dummy passes: Wests 8, Newtown 17

Kicks: wests 20, Newtown 17
Kicking metres: wests 536, Newtown 491
Forced drop outs: Wests 1, Newtown 1
Kicking defusal: Wests 675, Newtown 50%
Bombs; Wests 4, Newtown 6
Grubbers: Wests 3, Newtown 1
Effective tackles: Wests 88%, Newtown 90%
Tackles made: Wests 299, Newtown 387
Missed tackles: Wests 25, Newtown 31
Errors: Wests 13, Newtown 15
Penalties conceded: Wests 4, Newtown 7
On report: Wests 3, Newtown 0
Interchanges made: Wests 7, Newtown 8
HIA: Wests 0, Newtown 1
Wests received more 6-again calls than Newtown
Newtown began more sets inside their own 20m.