The Jets surge back into winning form with a huge victory against the Sydney Roosters

The Newtown Jets broke the shackles of a three-match losing streak in handing out a 54-0 thrashing to the Sydney Roosters, in the 12th round NSW Cup fixture played at the Industree Group Stadium in Gosford on Saturday evening.

The game was an even contest for the first fifteen minutes when the Roosters had more possession and favourable field position. There was a moment of drama in the 12th minute when the young Jets fullback Taj Ford chased a grubber kick from Niwhai Puru and crashed heavily into a goalpost upright, but fortunately he was able to recover quickly.

Three minutes later, a snappy short pass from Hohepa Puru and a determined crash play and physical wrestle by Dylan Coutts saw the young forward score in his debut game in the NSW Cup.

Jayden Berrell had just come onto the field when he sent Hohepa Puru over to score to the right of the uprights. Niwhai Puru converted both of these tries and Newtown had a useful 12-0 lead after 21 minutes.

The Jets third try saw a polished interchange of passes between Berrell, Niwhai Puru, Chris Vea’ila and Hohepa Puru, ending in Vea’ila doubling around Hohepa Puru and sprinting clear to score in the left-side corner.

The Roosters mounted an attack late in the first half but winger Kristian Dixon dashed their try-scoring plans by snapping up an intercept and racing 90 metres to score. Niwhai Puru’s conversion put Newtown in a commanding position with a 22-0 lead at half-time.

Nothing was going right for the Tricolours early in the second half when they failed to find touch with a penalty kick. Front-rower Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa and Niwhai Puru made good ground up the middle, with the ball being swept to the right-side attack through several pairs of hands to send Dixon in for his second try.

This was followed by Newtown’s supreme play-makers in Berrell and the Puru brothers, who combined to send Coutts over virtually unopposed for his second try. The Jets now led 32-0 and any hopes of a Roosters fightback in the second half were looking forlorn.

The Newtown lads proved they could tackle as well as score tries when they stoutly defended against repetition sets by the Roosters right on the Jets tryline. Midway through the second half, following a metre-gaining run by Coutts, Berrell sent a well-directed grubber kick into the Roosters in-goal where it was pounced on by the ball-playing backrower Blake Hosking.

Just minutes later, the masterful Berrell combined with fullback Taj Ford to send Niwhai Puru over next to the goalposts. By now the Jets had opened up a 44-0 lead with fifteen minutes remaining to play.

Once again, the Roosters advanced play down to Newtown’s end and had the Jets defending against repetition sets arising from a penalty late in the tackle count and a “six again” call from the referee. Just when the Tricolours looked likely to score, the wily Niwhai Puru grabbed an intercept (bringing to mind his sensational second half interception in last year’s Grand Final). The plucky halfback was run down by Roosters pursuers, but he threw a pass to centre Eli Clark who in turn sent winger Eparama Navale over in the corner. Five-eighth Riley Pollard temporarily took over the goal-kicking duties from the breathless Niwhai Puru, and brought up Newtown’s 50 points with his conversion from the sideline.

With four minutes to play, the splendid Berrell once again laid on another perfectly-flighted grubber kick into the Roosters in-goal, with Eli Clark winning the race to ground the football.

In his studied assessment of the game, the Newtown historian, columnist and author Terry Williams described Berrell’s top-class performance as being “like having Alex Murphy, Peter Sterling and Alfie Langer all on the field at the same time!” Newtown’s middle forwards had dominated for most of the match and the Jets backs had made the best use of the surplus of possession and territory made available to them. The Puru brothers were in top form and Dylan Coutts made an outstanding NSW Cup debut. Brad “Big Red” Fearnley returned from injury and made an impact with his midfield carries.

Newtown meets Western Suburbs at Henson Park on Saturday, 31st May at 3.00pm, with this 13th round NSW Cup fixture being the deciding match of the 2025 Tom Raudonikis Cup series.

There is a Jersey Flegg Cup curtain-raiser between the top of the table Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers kicking off at 12.50pm.

Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 12
Saturday, 24th May 2025
The Industree Group Stadium, Gosford
Sydney Roosters v Newtown
Kick-off: 5.05pm
This match was livestreamed on BarTV NSWRL.

Weather: Fine, slightly cloudy, 18 degrees
Playing surface: Excellent.

Match Result:
Newtown 54:
Dylan Coutts 2, Kristian Dixon 2,

Chris Vea’ila, Hohepa Puru,

Blake Hosking, Niwhai Puru,

Eparama Navale, Eli Clark tries;

Niwhai Puru 6 conversions, Riley Pollard 1 conversion

defeated
Sydney Roosters 0.

Half-Time: Newtown led 22-0.

The teams: –
Newtown:
Fullback: Taj Ford
Wingers: Eparama Navale, Kristian Dixon
Centres: Eli Clark, Chris Vea’ila
Halves: Riley Pollard, Niwhai Puru (Captain)
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Dylan Coutts
Front-Rowers: Lachlan Crouch, Max Bradbury
Hooker: Hohepa Puru

Interchange:
Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa, Jayden Berrell, Jordin Leiu, Brad Fearnley
Concussion Substitute: Kobie Wilson
Blue Shirt Trainer: Tom Haberecht
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Fletcher Graham Gold Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarak
Coach: George Ndaira.

Sydney Roosters:
Fullback: Owen Flaherty
Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Tyreece Tait
Centres: Ben Johnson, Lui Lee
Halves: Jake Elliott (Captain), Toby Rodwell
Lock: Ethan Roberts
Second-Rowers: Vito Tevaga, Aston Warwick
Front-Rowers: Lafitani Tuinauvai, Rhys Dakin
Hooker: Tyler Moriarty
Interchange:
Reece Foley, De La Salle Va’a
Josh Finau, Itula Seve

Concussion Substitute: Emery Jolliffe
Blue Shirt Trainer: Tait Barnes

Yellow Shirt Trainer: Scott Cullen
Gold Shirt Trainer: Luke Esposito
Game Day Doctor: Dr. Ho Kim
Coach: Brett Morris.

Video Material:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup highlights || Round 12 || Sydney Roosters v Newtown Jets || 24th May 2025:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2025/05/24/the-knock-on-effect-nsw-cup-highlights–round-12—roosters-v-jets/

The NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table after 12 rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=12&season=2025

Newtown Jets coach George Ndaira’s post-match comments:
https://x.com/newtownrlfc/status/1926541629185257808

Newtown v Western Suburbs || Henson Park || Saturday, 31st May 2025 || Kick-Off: 3.00pm:

The deciding match of the 2025 Tom Raudonikis Cup.

Brad “Big Red” Fearnley came back from injury last Saturday:
https://www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc/videos/1416520739533217

Match Timeline:
First Half:
Newtown kicked off to the Brisbane Water end of the ground.
15th minute: Dylan Coutts try
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 6-0.
21st minute: Hohepa Puru try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 12-0.

31st minute: Chris Vea’ila try.
Not converted. Newtown 16-0.
39th minute: Kristian Dixon try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 22-0.
Half-Time: Newtown led 22-0.
Second Half:
Sydney Roosters kicked off.
46th minute: Kristian Dixon try.

Not converted. Newtown 26-0.
49th minute: Dylan Coutts try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 32-0.
59th minute: Blake Hosking try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 38-0.
61st minute: Niwhai Puru try.

Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 44-0.
69th minute: Eparama Navale try.

Converted by Riley Pollard. Newtown 50-0.
74th minute: Eli Clark try.
Not converted. Newtown 54-0.
Full-Time: Newtown 54 defeated Sydney Roosters 0.

Match Statistics:
Newtown player statistics:
Most tackles – Hohepa Puru – 32 tackles

Most metres run – Kristian Dixon – 194 metres

Team Statistics:
(Abbreviations: Newtown: N; Sydney Roosters: R.)
Possession: R 45%, N 55%

Time in possession: R 20.15s, N 24.15s.
Completion rate: R 67% (23/34); N 85% (36/42)
Runs made: R 137, N 181
Metres run: R 917, N 1658
Post contact metres: R 338, N 452
Line breaks: R 0, N 8
Tackle breaks: R 16, N 17
Average set distance: R 27, N 39.5
Kick return metres: R 48, N 169
Average play the ball speed: R 3.61s, N 3.39s
Offloads: R 4, N 7
Receipts: R 321, N 376
Total passes: R 182, N 200
Dummy passes: R 5, N 45 (!)

Kicks: R 13, N 17
Kicking metres: R 301, N 431
Forced drop outs: R 3, N 0
Kick defusal: R 71%, N 33%
Bombs: R 4, N 5
Grubbers: R 1, N 2
Effective tackles: R 92%, N 91%
Tackles made: R 316, N 243
Missed tackles: R 17, N 16
Intercepts: R 0, N 3

Ineffective tackles: R 10, N 7
Errors: R 15, N 7

Penalties conceded: R 5, N 9
Ruck infringements: R 4, N 1
Inside 10 metres: R 2, N 2
Interchanges: R 7, N 7.

Newtown’s next game details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 13
Saturday, 31st May 2025
Henson Park
Newtown v Western Suburbs

This is the deciding match of the 2025 Tom Raudonikis Cup series
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
This match will be livestreamed on BarTV NSWRL.

(Curtain-raiser details:
Jersey Flegg Cup:
Cronulla Sharks v Wests Tigers:
Kick-Off: 12.50pm.)