Four tries to young Sharks outside back Jonaiah Lualua wasn’t enough to hold off the Newcastle Knights on a ‘tribute to Tommy’ day at Henson Park on Saturday.
In front of a big crowd on an afternoon where former Jets and Magpies great Tom Raudonikis was farewelled by the Newtown faithful, the Knights proved too good in running out 42-22 winners in the high-scoring affair.
It was a disappointing result on an emotional day for the Jets, with the Knights holding a narrow advantage for most of the game before running up the score late in the contest.
However while a disappointing outcome, on a positive for the Jets and Sharks, 21-year-old Development contract player Lualua was the star.
On the end of a potent Jets backline, Lualua scored his teams first three tries inside the first 20 minutes of the match, then another late in the contest when the result was almost confirmed in Newcastle’s favour.
The Knights led 18-12 at the break, then blew the game open with tries in the 43rd, 46th and 51st minutes to assert a dominance they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Jets would score five tries in the match, with half back Braydon Trindall having an uncharacteristic day off with the boot in managing just one conversion.
The match also saw Sharks utility forward Billy Magoulias turn out for Newtown after he had received limited minutes in Cronulla’s loss to the Knights in Newcastle the previous evening.
After a slow start to their 2021 season the Jets will be keen for a change of fortune when they host Mounties in their next match on Saturday.
Newcastle Knights 42
Simi Sasagi, Luke Huth, Garrett Smith, Nicholas O’Meley, Ben Talty, McKenzie Baker, Gehamat Shibasaki tries; Zane Camroux 6 conversions, 1 penalty goal
defeated
Newtown 22
Jonaiah Lualua 4, Braydon Trindall tries; Trindall 1 goal.
Newtown’s team:
Luke Metcalf, Edward Aiono, Dylan O’Connor, Jensen Taumoepaeu, Jonaiah Lualua, Jack A. Williams, Braydon Trindall, Billy Magoulias, D’Rhys Miller, Bronson Garlick, Brock Gray, Kyle Paterson, Daniel Vasquez. Interchange: Gabe Hamlin, Zac Woolford, Franklin Pele, Kayleb Milne. Coach: Greg Matterson.
Newcastle Knights:
Zane Camroux, Gehamat Shibasaki, Dylan Lucas, Nicholas O’Meley, Jacob Kiraz, Simi Sasagi, McKenzie Baker, Jack Johns, Zac Hosking, Ben Talty, Matt Croker, Luke Huth, Pasami Saulo. Interchange: Liam Wilkinson, Garrett Smith, Jaron Purcell, John Toleafoa. Coach: Andrew Ryan.
Newtown’s next match:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – Round Seven
Saturday, 24th April 2021
Henson Park
Newtown v Mounties (who are now a partnership club with Canterbury-Bankstown).
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.
