Considering they held a commanding first half lead, it was a disappointing result for the Jets last weekend when beaten 32-18 by the Sydney Roosters in a round 17 match played at Wentworth Park.
The Jets were seemingly in control at 18-4 at half time, however it was all the Roosters after the break, with their opponents scoring 28 points, while Newtown were kept scoreless.
The loss saw the Jets slip to fifth on the Knock On Effect NSW Cup ladder, making their match this weekend against the Wests Magpies crucial to their hopes of keeping in touch with the leading teams and pushing for a Finals berth.
The Jets return home to Henson Park for the round 18 clash with the Magpies on Saturday, with kick off at 3.00pm.
A Jersey Flegg match between the Sharks and Wests Tigers will be the curtain-raiser, getting underway at 1.00pm.
See below the two teams lists, followed by a match report, provided courtesy of Newtown Jets media.
Match: Jets v Magpies
Round 18 -
home Team
Jets
away Team
Magpies
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Jets is number 1 Liam IsonFullback for Magpies is number 1 Brent Naden
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Winger for Jets is number 2 Tom RodwellWinger for Magpies is number 5 Alex Lobb
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Centre for Jets is number 3 Chris Vea'ilaCentre for Magpies is number 3 Solomone Saukuru
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Centre for Jets is number 19 Jordan SwannCentre for Magpies is number 4 Josh Feledy
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Winger for Jets is number 5 Siteni TaukamoWinger for Magpies is number 19 Luke Laulilii
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Five-Eighth for Jets is number 6 Khaled RajabFive-Eighth for Magpies is number 6 Latu Fainu
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Halfback for Jets is number 7 Niwhai PuruHalfback for Magpies is number 7 Jayden Sullivan
Forwards
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Prop for Jets is number 8 Toby RudolfProp for Magpies is number 8 Tim Johannssen
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Hooker for Jets is number 18 Samuel HealeyHooker for Magpies is number 9 Tallyn Da Silva
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Prop for Jets is number 16 Braden Hamlin-UeleProp for Magpies is number 10 Reuben Porter
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2nd Row for Jets is number 11 Kyle Pickering2nd Row for Magpies is number 11 Tony Sukkar
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2nd Row for Jets is number 15 Jordin Leiu2nd Row for Magpies is number 12 Lachlan Broederlow
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Lock for Jets is number 10 Jesse ColquhounLock for Magpies is number 13 Kit Laulilii
Interchange
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Interchange for Jets is number 13 Blake HoskingInterchange for Magpies is number 14 Declan Casey
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Interchange for Jets is number 14 Rhys DakinInterchange for Magpies is number 15 Zakauri Clarke
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Interchange for Jets is number 17 Billy MagouliasInterchange for Magpies is number 16 Jordan Miller
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Interchange for Jets is number 21 Joshua CookInterchange for Magpies is number 17 Cayne Nicholas
Reserves
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Replacement for Jets is number 26 Tyla Tamou
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Reserve for Magpies is number 18 Jimmy Ngutlik
Last updated:
The Curse of Wentworth Park still holds sway over the Newtown Jets.
by Newtown Jets Media
Newtown’s loss to the Sydney Roosters at Wentworth Park in 2023 was repeated at the same venue on Saturday afternoon.
The Jets led by 18-4 at halftime in Saturday’s match and seemed to be well placed to lay claim to another two competition points.
In a second half display that can only be described as substandard, the Jets conceded 28 unanswered points to go down by 32-18 to the Sydney Roosters (who remain in 12th place on the NSW Cup competition table, while Newtown dropped down to 5th position).
The Newtown centre and reliable goal-kicker Mawene Hiroti left the field prior to halftime for a head injury assessment and an examination of an eye injury. The experienced front-rower Braden Hamlin-Uele was placed on report in the 69th minute of the game.
The Jets scored three converted tries in the first half but didn’t score another point in the game after the 23rd minute.
Newtown’s first try after 8 minutes was a first-class example of high speed, close support play, with a midfield exchange of passes between Jayden Berrell, Niwhai Puru, Tuku Hau Tapuha who produced a wonderful off-load to Berrell, who in turn sent Kyle Pickering over to the right of the CBD end goal posts.
Four minutes later, quick hands on the left edge gave winger Tom Rodwell the chance to step inside two Roosters defenders and score in the corner. Mawene Hiroti converted from the sideline for Newtown to lead 12-0.
Newtown’s third try was scored by the giant front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha, who was the Jets best forward on the day. Newtown had punished the Roosters in the first half for their unforced and concession of penalties. The Jets completion rate in the first half was 91%, which along with being ahead 6-2 in the penalty count and benefiting from the Roosters repeated errors, gave Newtown a commanding 18-4 lead after 23 minutes.
The worrying trend for Newtown in the latter part of the first half was the extent to which the Roosters started to get back into the game. Mawene Hiroti went very close to scoring just before halftime (in fact, when he was injured), but the NSWRL TV commentator noted late in the first half that the Roosters had shown that they were still in this contest.
The livestream commentator reported that the Roosters had received an almighty “rev-up” from their coach at halftime.
Whatever happened during the halftime break, it became apparent that the Roosters had a greater intensity in their running with the ball and their defensive commitment in the opening minutes of the second half.
There were some unforced errors by both sides, but the Roosters were starting to get a few off-loads going and to make ground through the middle, which had been Newtown’s domain in the first half.
After the Roosters had scored from a grubber-kick into Newtown’s in-goal ten minutes into the second half, the livestream commentator made the prescient remark that “rugby league history has a tendency to repeat itself.”
It was apparent that Newtown’s second half errors and the complete turnaround in the flow of penalties was playing the energised Roosters back into this contest. The Roosters scored again in the 56th minute and a conversion from the sideline had narrowed Newtown’s lead to 18-16.
Newtown eventually mounted an attack at the Roosters end, albeit twenty-two minutes into the second half. Fullback Daniel Atkinson and five-eighth Khalid Rajab combined smartly, with Atkinson’s kick ahead eluding the Roosters fullback and nearly resulting in a try that might well have provided the path to victory for the Jets.
Playing with energy and confidence that had been absent in the first half, the Roosters added three more tries in the last twelve minutes of the game to win by a comfortable margin.
Five minutes out from fulltime front-rower Jesse Colquhoun went close scoring, as did Hamlin-Uele in the next set of possession. Winger Sam Stonestreet was over in the corner in the 75th minute but was forced into touch in-goal without grounding the ball.
Newtown’s 48% completion rate in the second half and the succession of territory-gaining penalties to the Roosters told the story of this second half reversal of rugby league fortunes.
The Jets return to Henson Park to play Western Suburbs on Saturday, 6th July at 3.00pm. Other than two badly needed competition points for the Newtown Jets, this match will determine the winner of this year’s Tom Raudonikis Cup series.
Match Details:
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 17
Saturday, 29th June 2024
Wentworth Park, Glebe
Sydney Roosters v Newtown
Team Details: -
Newtown’s team:
Fullback: Daniel Atkinson
Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Sam Stonestreet
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Mawene Hiroti
Halves: Khaled Rajab, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Billy Burns (Captain)
Front Rowers: Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tuku Hau Tapuha
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Jesse Colquhoun, Jordin Leiu, Billy Magoulias, Sam Healey
Reserve: Rhys Dakin
Coach: George Ndaira.
Sydney Roosters:
Fullback: Kyron Fekitoa
Wingers: Jade Anderson, Harry McKeon
Centres: Michael Jennings, Tyreece Tait
Halves: Jake Elliott, Sandon Smith (Captain)
Lock: Blake Steep
Second Rowers: Phoenix Steinwede, Salesi Foketi
Front Rowers: Taylor Losalu, Siua Wong
Hooker: Tyler Moriarty
Interchange:
Hugo Savala, Max McCathie, De La Salle Va’a, Tayson Fakaosi
Reserve: Corey Ross
Coach: Brett Morris.
Match Result:
Sydney Roosters 32:
Tyreece Tait 4, Michael Jennings, Kyron Fekitoa tries;
Sandon Smith 4 conversions
defeated
Newtown 18:
Kyle Pickering, Tom Rodwell, Tuku Hau Tapuha tries;
Mawene Hiroti 3 conversions>
Halftime: Newtown led 18-4.
NSWRL TV Highlights || NSW Cup || Sydney Roosters v Newtown Jets || Round 17 || Wentworth Park || Saturday, 29th June 2024: CLICK HERE
After 17 rounds, Newtown is now in fifth position on the NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table: CLICK HERE
Match Timeline: -
First Half:
Newtown kicked off to the CBD end of Wentworth Park.
3rd minute: Tyreece Tait (Roosters) try.
Not converted. Roosters 4-0.
8th minute: Kyle Pickering (Newtown) try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti (Newtown) 6-4.
12th minute: Tom Rodwell (Newtown) try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti (Newtown) 12-4.
22nd minute: Tuku Hau Tapuha (Newtown) try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti (Newtown) 18-4.
38th minute: Mawene Hiroti (Newtown) HIA. Ruled out for the rest of the game.
Halftime: Newtown led 18-4.
Second half:
Newtown was running to the Glebe Point Road end of Wentworth Park.
50th minute: Michael Jennings (Roosters) try.
Converted by Sandon Smith. Newtown 18-10.
56th minute: Kyron Fekitoa (Roosters) try.
Converted by Sandon Smith. Newtown 18-16.
68th minute: Tyreece Tait (Roosters) try.
Converted by Sandon Smith. Roosters 22-18.
72nd minute: Tyreece Tait (Roosters) try.
Not converted. Roosters 26-18.
78th minute: Tyreece Tait (Roosters) try.
Converted by Sandon Smith. Roosters 32-18.
Fulltime: Sydney Roosters 32 defeated Newtown 18.
