Newtown Jets stand-in five-eighth Luke Polselli makes the break that led to a try by hooker James Segeyaro. Luke’s Jets team-mates Braden Hamlin-Uele, Aaron Gray and Matt Evans maintain a keen interest. Photo:
Mario Facchini, mafphotography.
Newtown Jets stand-in five-eighth Luke Polselli makes the break that led to a try by hooker James Segeyaro. Luke’s Jets team-mates Braden Hamlin-Uele, Aaron Gray and Matt Evans maintain a keen interest. Photo: Mario Facchini, mafphotography.

Winless Jets beaten in the last minute in local derby thriller

In what was the first senior rugby league match played between Newtown and South Sydney at Redfern Oval in thirty-six years, the Rabbitohs broke a host of Newtown Jets hearts by snatching a last-minute 28-26 victory.

Redfern Oval might be known now as the Metricon High Performance Centre, but the two foundation clubs certainly turned on an absorbing contest for the crowd and the Channel Nine live viewing audience. Souths led 12-4 midway through the first half but Newtown took the lead with tries to winger Ronaldo Mulitalo and hooker James Segeyaro close to halftime, with the Jets going in to the break leading by 14-12.

The Rabbitohs dominated the third quarter of the game and looked to be in control with a 24-14 lead fifteen minutes out from fulltime. The Jets kicked back with tries to halfback Kyle Flanagan and centre Aaron Gray, both converted by Flanagan. The Rabbitohs regained the ball from a short kick-off and surged downfield towards the Newtown tryline, conjuring up a try in the last ten seconds of play aided by a couple of contentious decisions.

The Jets paid the price for several possession turnovers at critical moments of the game, along with their inability to effectively counter Souths’ tactic of employing short kicks from both kick-offs and goal-line drop-outs.

Centre Aaron Gray and winger Ronaldo Mulitalo were both impressive, while halfback Kyle Flanagan scored one try and assisted in three others. Youngster Luke Polselli was on debut in this grade and did a splendid job as the replacement five-eighth for the injured Jack A. Williams. Despite the errors made during the game, this was a much improved performance by the Jets which only made the circumstances of the last-minute loss more difficult to cope with.

Newtown’s next match is on Sunday, 7th April when the Jets play Wentworthville at Ringrose Park in Round Four of the Canterbury Cup NSW, with this game timed for kick-off at 3.00pm.

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.

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

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.

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

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

Sunday Sun 603

The Other Premiers of 1943

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.