Newtown winger Ray Preston (with the ball) breaks clear in a match against South Sydney at the SCG in 1955. Newtown’s captain-coach Dick Poole is in the background. Photo: Supplied by Terry Williams.
Newtown winger Ray Preston (with the ball) breaks clear in a match against South Sydney at the SCG in 1955. Newtown’s captain-coach Dick Poole is in the background. Photo: Supplied by Terry Williams.

Vale Ray Preston

The Newtown RLFC regrets to announce the recent passing of the former Newtown player Ray Preston.

Mr Preston was one of the most accomplished wingers in Newtown’s history.

He joined the club in 1949 and played with the Bluebags until 1956. In that time he played 115 first grade games, recording the amazing strike rate of 107 tries. In the 1954 season he scored 34 tries, which remains the Newtown club’s record for the most tries scored in a season.

In that same year of 1954, Newtown’s other winger Kevin Considine scored 22 tries. Their combined total of 56 tries in one season remains both a Newtown and NSWRL first grade record. Ray Preston and Kevin Considine played in both of Newtown’s losing grand final teams in 1954 and 1955.

Ray finished his playing career with seasons at Macksville (on the NSW north coast) and Parramatta. He was also a well-performed professional sprinter in the 1950s.

The Newtown RLFC expresses sincere condolences to the Preston family on his passing.

Hard-running centre Nene Macdonald played on numerous occasions for the Newtown Jets in 2021. Last Sunday Nene was playing for Papua-New Guinea against the Cook Islands in the 2023 Pacific Championships - Pacific Bowl and he scored four tries. (Photo: Mike Magee).

Information about 2024 Newtown RLFC memberships; Newtown Jets playing in the 2023 Pacific Championship Series; and a reminder about Newtown RLFC merchandise.

Oct 24, 2023
Kyle Pickering and Daniel Atkinson, Italian rugby league representative team, 7th October 2023 (NSWRL Twitter) crop

These Newtown Jets players have gained selection in various end of season representative rugby league teams

Oct 24, 2023
Newtown Jets 2023 Presentation Night bottom image for web post

The Newtown Jets RLFC held its Annual Presentation Dinner on the evening of Friday, 29th September 2023 at the Petersham RSL Club.

Oct 10, 2023
Newtown Jets left-edge backrower Kyle Pickering (in possession) about to score at Henson Park on Saturday, 22nd July 2023. Jets fullback Manaia Waitere salutes the crowd after playing a clever role in setting up the try. (Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography)

Newtown RLFC 2023 Presentation Dinner Details

Sep 18, 2023
July 22, 2023 - Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, Kyle Pickering of the Newtown Jets scores his second try of the game during Round 21 of the NSWRL Knock On Effect NSW Cup at Henson Park in Marrickville, New South Wales. (Mario Facchini/mafphotography)

Newtown RLFC 2023 Presentation Night Details

Sep 18, 2023
Sunday Sun 603

The Other Premiers of 1943

Aug 31, 2023

Australian Mutual Bank
Front of Jersey

Petersham RSL
Back of Jersey

Deicorp
Back of Jersey, Training Gear, Socks

Invisi-Gard
Jersey Minor

John Singleton Group
Sleeve

Schofield King Lawyers
Sleeve

Coverforce
Front of Shorts

The Henson
Back of Shorts

Sydney Park Hotel
Back of Shorts

Sports Medicine Institute
Medical Services & Rehabilitation

Label Plus
Major Sponsor

Arista Technologies
Technology Partner

Newtown Jets respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the Land and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on and that the land area encompassing Henson Park traditionally belonged to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation.