The Jets loss to the Newcastle Knights relegates them to fifth place on the competition table

(With thanks to the NSWRL media section).

The Newcastle Knights narrowly defeated the Newtown Jets in a tight contest at the McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The two sides went try for try until the Knights scored two tries back to back in the last five minutes of the game to ensure their 34-24 victory. Newtown never led at any point in the game.

It was an extremely windy afternoon and kicks proved to be a serious challenge for both the attacking and defending teams. The Knights first try came from the bounce of the ball beating the Jets defence and enabling the home side to score in the fourth minute.

The Knights extended their lead six minutes later by way of a penalty goal. That extra two points was to play a significant role for the Newcastle team for a considerable part of the game.

An error by the Knights in their own half was quickly seized upon by the Jets, and Jayden Berrell’s precise short pass put Billy Magoulias across to score.

Another swirling high kick by the Knights wasn’t safely defused by the Jets, resulting in the Newcastle team’s second try.

The Jets forced the Knights into a goal-line drop-out situation and the short kick backfired, with Jackson Ferris catching the ball at top speed and running a perfect angled line straight through the Newcastle defence to score. Niwhai Puru converted both of Newtown’s tries and the Knights led 14-12 at the break. It was obvious that the extremely blustery conditions were going to have an impact on the final outcome of this game.

The second half of the match saw both sides scoring try for try, with several tries being scored within a fifteen-minute period.

The Knights scored a converted try in the 50th minute, but Niwhai Puru’s crisp short ball sent Billy Burns racing through a huge gap for Newtown to get back to within two points again.

More points followed when the Jets again failed to cope with the strong wind, with the Knights scoring again and drawing away to a 26-18 lead.

Jets hooker Sam Healey, always dangerous from dummy-half, hoodwinked the Knights defenders to score under the northern end goal posts in the 60th minute.

The Jets players would been the cause of despair for their coaching staff and supporters when the Knights scored again to pull away to a 30-24 lead, with Newtown once again being unable to handle another high kick.

Newtown prevented another Knights try in the 70th minute with some good defence. A dramatic passage of play ensued when Sam Healey was tackled less than a metre from the Knights tryline – a try that would almost certainly have enabled the Jets to draw level.

A dropped ball by the Jets at Newcastle’s end of the field resulted in a breakaway long-distance try to the Knights, extending their lead out to 34-24 which remained the score at full-time.

Jets coach George Ndaira commented after the game that the most frustrating aspect of the afternoon had been that the Jets had repeatedly shown they were capable of getting back into the game (albeit trailing each time by the two points from that first-half penalty goal), and then “shooting themselves in the foot” by allowing the Knights to score again.

George Ndaira felt that the Jets had not worked hard enough for each other as a team, and that this game was there to be won if they really wanted it.

The surprise loss has relegated Newtown from third to fifth place on the NSW Cup competition table, with Penrith and St George-Illawarra closing in fast for a place in the top five.

This Saturday, the 27th July, is the occasion of the annual Beer, Footy and Food Festival at Henson Park, commencing at 12 noon. Newtown is at home to Parramatta in the 21st round of the NSW Cup, with the match timed for kick-off at 3.00pm.

Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 20
Saturday, 20th July 2024
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Newcastle Knights v Newtown
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

Weather: 15 degrees, clear sky, very strong wind.

Playing surface: Excellent.

The teams:

Newtown:
Fullback: Tyla Tamou
Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Siteni Taukamo
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Jackson Ferris
Halves: Khaled Rajab, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Billy Magoulias
Second-Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Billy Burns (Captain)
Front-Rowers: Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tuku Hau Tapuha
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Brad Fearnley, Blake Hosking, Jordin Leiu, Sam Healey
Reserve: Rhys Dakin
Coach: George Ndaira.

Newcastle Knights:
Fullback: Fletcher Sharpe
Wingers: Logan Aoake, Hayden Sutton
Centres: Thomas Jenkins, Kyle McCarthy
Halves: Liam Sutton, Jack Cogger
Lock: Jaxson Rahme
Second-Rowers: Brock Greacen, Elijah Salesa Ieaumoana
Front-Rowers: Sebastian Su’a, Jack Cullen
Hooker: Riley Jones
Interchange:
Zach Herring, Jermaine McEwen, Clay Webb, Callan Burgess
Reserve: Harry Reid
Coach: Ron Griffiths.

Match Result:

Half-Time:
Newcastle Knights 14 v Newtown 12.

Full-Time:
Newcastle Knights 34:
Fletcher Sharpe 2, Thomas Jenkins, Sebastian Su’a,
Jermaine McEwen, Liam Sutton tries;.
Liam Sutton 4 conversions, 1 penalty goal
defeated
Newtown 24:
Billy Magoulias, Jackson Ferris, Billy Burns, Sam Healey tries;
Niwhai Puru 4 conversions.

Brad ‘Big Red’ Fearnley wants to see you down at Henson Park for the Beer, Footy & Food Festival this Saturday, 27th July:

NSW Cup 2024 Ladder after 20 rounds

https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder

Hear what George Ndaira had to say following Saturday’s loss to the Newcastle Knights.

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=7604706289656829

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Highlights – Newcastle Knights v Newtown Jets – Round 20, 2024 – McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle:
https://www.facebook.com/KnockOnEffectCup/videos/1526678554891369

Match Timeline:

First Half:
Newcastle Knights kicked off, running to the northern end of the ground.
3.30s: Thomas Jenkins try
Liam Sutton conversion. Knights 6-0.

11th min: Jayden Berrell on report.
12th min: Liam Sutton penalty goal. Knights 8-0.

14.30s: Billy Magoulias try.
Niwhai Puru conversion. Knights 8-6.

21st min: Fletcher Sharpe try.
Liam Sutton conversion. Knights 14-6.
34th min: Jackson Ferris try.

Niwhai Puru conversion. Knights 14-12.
Half-Time: Newcastle Knights led 14-12.
Second Half:
47.30s: Fletcher Sharpe try.
Liam Sutton conversion. Knights 20-12.
51st min: Billy Burns try.
Niwhai Puru conversion. Knights 20-18.
55th min: Sebastian Su’a try.

Liam Sutton conversion. Knights 26-18.

60.30s: Sam Healey try.
Niwhai Puru conversion. Knights 26-24.
64th min: Jermaine McEwen try.
Not converted. Knights 30-24.
75th min: Liam Sutton try.
Not converted. Knights 34-24.
Full-Time: Newcastle Knights 34 defeated Newtown 24.

Match Statistics:
(with thanks to Stuart McCarthy)

Completions:

1st half: Newtown 13/18 (72%) Newcastle 10/16 (63%)

2nd half: Newtown 12/16 (75%) Newcastle 16/17 (94%)

Full-Time: Newtown 25/34 (74%) Newcastle 26/33 (79%)

Possession:

1st half: Newtown 71 tackles (52%) Newcastle 65 tackles (48%)

2nd half: Newtown 52 tackles (44%) Newcastle 67 tackles (56%)

Full-Time: Newtown 123 tackles (48%) Newcastle 132 tackles (52%)

Penalties:

1st half: Newtown 4 Newcastle 1

2nd half: Newtown 3 Newcastle 1

Full-Time: Newtown 7 Newcastle 2

Errors: Newtown 13, Newcastle 6

Missed tackles: Newcastle 34, Newtown 51

Kick defusals: Newcastle 88%, Newtown 38%

Kicking metres: Newcastle 409, Newtown 165

Next Game Details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup

21st Round
Saturday, 27th July 2024
Henson Park
Newtown v Parramatta
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

This is the Beer, Footy and Food Festival Day, commencing at 12 noon.