Fielding a team boasting a number of the Sharks full-time NRL squad members, the Newtown Jets have gone down to the Newcastle Knights in their trial match played at the Maitland Sportsground.
The Jets scored first but fit was largely one-way traffic from that point, the Knights registering a comfortable 26-12 victory.
The match began with an awful error from the Knights fullback, a mistake which gifted the Jets their first points, Luke Polselli on the spot to claim the ball and plant if down for the opening try.
Braydon Trindall added the extra two points and it was 6-0 to Newtown eight minutes into the contest.
The Knights worked their way back into the game, a fortuitous try to front rower Jirah Momoisea after a grubber kick bounced off the left upright levelled the score up, before Newcastle number one atoned from his error in crossing for a four-pointer shortly after.
Another Newcastle try, this time from edge backrower Zac Hosking pushed the margin out further, with the teams going to the break with the Knights up 16-6.
Both coaches made a number of changes in the second period, which showed with the attack from the two teams somewhat disjointed, with 25-minutes gone before further points were added and it would be the Knights to extend their advantage when Brodie Jones strolled over.
Another try by Sam Stone inside the final 10-minutes of the match pushing the score out to 26-6, before a late try to James Casson from the Jets, converted by Sia Talakai, completed the scoring.
Despite the loss the Jets had some solid performers, Isaac Lumelume was strong on the wing, fullback Polselli had his moments and half Jack Williams tried his best to steer the team around until he limped off with what appeared to be a calf injury.
The Jets now have a week to regroup before their round one match.
JETS 12
James Casson, Luke Polselli tries, Braydon Trindall, Sia Talakai goals
Lost to
Newcastle 26
