In an exciting finale to the 2019 Canterbury Cup season, a spectacular try to fullback Will Kennedy eight minutes into the overtime period, has seen the Newtown Jets claim a memorable Grand Final victory at BankWest Stadium.
After falling behind to a Wentworthville field goal in the early moments of the extra-time period, it was a Billy Magoulias chip kick, collected by Tyrone Phillips, with Kennedy finishing off the move that would see Newtown score an amazing 20-15 win.
The two teams had been locked together at 14-all at the end of the regulation 80-minutes, with the Jets seemingly down and out before the last-play heroics from Phillips and the young Sharks pair.
The win was the Jets first NSWRL premiership since 2012, with young five eighth Jack Williams, a local De La Salle Caringbah product who has signed a Sharks NRL development contract for 2020, proudly lifting the Canterbury Cup trophy as Jets skipper.
The victory was also a nice piece of revenge after the Jets lost the NSWRL competition decider to the Bulldogs 12 months prior.
After the Magpies opened the scoring in the second minute of the match courtesy of a penalty goal, the Jets would press at the other end, with Phillips denied by the video referee.
With momentum still in their favour the Jets continued to pressure their opponents and it was Kennedy, with a smart off load to centre Ronaldo Mulitalo, that would produce the first try.
Braydon Trindall converted and the Jets led 6-2 after 14 minutes.
Two consecutive penalties gifted Wentworthville field position soon after and they managed to capitalise, fullback and captain Josh Hoffman twisting and turning his way over the line to level the scores.
Rhys Davies converted and it was 8-6 to the Magpies.
Seven minutes before the break the Jets would retake the lead, this time it was Scott Sorensen, grounding the ball in the in goal after winning the race to a Magoulias grubber kick.
Again Trindall was on target to put his team up 12-8, but just when it appeared they would go to half time with the lead, the Magpies had other ideas, George Jennings going over from dummy half, Davies converting, and it was 14-12 Wentworthville.
While the teams traded two tries apiece in the first period in an open and attacking contest, the second turned into something of a defensive arm wrestle.
The Jets looked to have gone back in front when Matt Evans, deputising for an injured Mulitalo, stole the ball and sent Sione Katoa away for a 50-metre dash, only for the video referee to determine their were two in the tackle when the ball was turned over and a Wentworthville penalty was the result.
From there they traded blows, but the respective defences held firm, until Kennedy was knocked over in chasing a kick and the 20-yea-old Trindall, showing maturity and nerve, slotted a 40-metre penalty goal, with just four minutes left to level the scores.
Trindall had two shots at field goal in the dying moments but neither were close, the match then needing the overtime period to crown a winner.
With their parochial crowd cheering them on the Jets weren't discouraged by the Jaemon Salmon field goal, held on under immense pressure following a couple of errors, before the Kennedy try would seal the victory.
Kennedy was named as a worthy winner of the official man of the match award, but he had numerous willing helpers on the day, with a couple of classy Magoulias touches late in the game crucial, Katoa was a constant menace on the wing, Blayke Brailey defended stoutly and controlled the game at hooker, prop Toby Rudolf got through 47 tackles in almost the same amount of time on the field, while Sorensen was outstanding on the left edge.
As a result of the victory the Jets will now be on show on NRL Grand Final day, taking on the Burleigh Bears for the National Championship.
JETS 20
Will Kennedy, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Scott Sorensen tries, Braydon Trindall 4 goals
beat
MAGPIES 15
