Despite being without a number of key personnel and with a handful of Sharks Jersey Flegg players included in their team, the Jets maintained fourth position on the Knock On Effect NSW Cup ladder with a win over Souths last weekend.
Led by two tries each to Flegg outside backs Siteni Taukamo and Kristian Dixon, the Jets proved too good for the Rabbitohs in a 38-16 victory.
The Jets led 18-10 at the break, before going on with the job in the second half.
This week the challenge steps up a notch for the Newtown side when they travel to North Sydney Oval to take on traditional rivals the Bears in a round 23 match on Sunday.
The Jets v Bears match is scheduled to kick off at 3.00pm. This match is the deciding leg of the 2024 Frank Hyde Shield series, with North Sydney winning the first leg 16-12.
See following the two team lists, along with a comprehensive report, courtesy of Newtown Jets Media, on the game against Souths last Saturday.
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Bears is number 25 Sualauvi FaalogoFullback for Jets is number 1 Liam Ison
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Winger for Bears is number 5 Tuipulotu KatoaWinger for Jets is number 2 Tom Rodwell
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Centre for Bears is number 3 Kieran HaymanCentre for Jets is number 3 Chris Vea'ila
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Centre for Bears is number 4 Dean IeremiaCentre for Jets is number 4 Mawene Hiroti
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Winger for Bears is number 21 Allan FitzgibbonWinger for Jets is number 15 Jordan Swann
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Five-Eighth for Bears is number 1 Jake TobyFive-Eighth for Jets is number 6 Khaled Rajab
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Halfback for Bears is number 7 Ben StevanovicHalfback for Jets is number 7 Niwhai Puru
Forwards
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Prop for Bears is number 8 Kurt De LuisProp for Jets is number 8 Rhys Dakin
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Hooker for Bears is number 14 Rua NgatikauraHooker for Jets is number 9 Samuel Healey
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Prop for Bears is number 20 Tepai MoeroaProp for Jets is number 23 Tuku Hau Tapuha
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2nd Row for Bears is number 11 Matt Stimson2nd Row for Jets is number 10 Jordin Leiu
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2nd Row for Bears is number 17 Ativalu Lisati2nd Row for Jets is number 11 Kyle Pickering
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Lock for Bears is number 13 Caleb TohiLock for Jets is number 13 Blake Hosking
Interchange
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Interchange for Bears is number 9 Jayden YatesInterchange for Jets is number 14 Lachlan Jake Crouch
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Interchange for Bears is number 15 Jack BoylingInterchange for Jets is number 17 Billy Magoulias
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Interchange for Bears is number 16 Regan HughesInterchange for Jets is number 18 Joshua Cook
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Interchange for Bears is number 18 Jerry KeyInterchange for Jets is number 21 Salesi Ataata
Reserves
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Replacement for Bears is number 19 Sione TupouniuaReplacement for Jets is number 26 Tony Maroun
Last updated:
Jets overcome a slow start and run up a big win over the Rabbitohs.
By Newtown Jets Media
The Newtown Jets edged closer to a place in the 2024 semi-finals after defeating South Sydney 38-16 in the 22nd round fixture played at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Jets are now in fourth place after the weekend’s round of matches but they have the New Zealand Warriors, Penrith and St George-Illawarra close behind them on the competition table.
There were a number of changes to Newtown’s playing line-up against South Sydney. Liam Ison and Jayden Berrell both played for the Jets on Saturday after having made their NRL debuts with the Cronulla Sharks on the previous weekend. The young Sharks front-rower Lachlan Jake Crouch made his NSW Cup competition match debut on Saturday after having played with the Jets in a trial match back in February. The big front-rower Salesi Ataata was also back with Newtown for Saturday’s assignment. The multi-skilled Jayden Berrell played at five-eighth with Siteni Taukamo moving back to the wing.
The Rabbitohs belied their position on the competition table with two early tries, taking advantage of some bewildered Newtown Jets defence as they ran up a 10-0 lead in as many minutes. In fact Newtown did not get down to South Sydney’s end of the field until the Rabbitohs made a handling error in the 19th minute inside their own twenty metre zone.
The Jets quickly took advantage of this favourable field position as Niwhai Puru and Liam Ison put on a rapid left side manoeuvre, with a well-judged cut-out pass from Ison sending Siteni Taukamo over in the south-east corner. Puru continued his good goal-kicking form and converted from the sideline for Newtown to trail by 10-6.
Souths continued to threaten the Jets and were held up by desperate defence close to the Newtown tryline on at least three more occasions. The Jets had made their defensive task harder by conceding several penalties, including being marched back an extra ten metres for back-chatting the referee’s decision.
Newtown took their chance following Souths turning over the ball. The Jets made ground downfield and scored a classy try in the 35th minute, with Berrell and Billy Magoulias combining to send Puru racing over to score near the Sydenham Road end goal posts. Magoulias’s back of hand pass to put Puru through a defensive gap was a sight to behold. Puru converted his own try to put Newtown ahead 12-10, the first time they had led in the match.
The Jets were in the ascendancy and made further good ground into Souths territory, and a six again call from the referee gave Newtown more attacking opportunity. Right in the shadow of halftime Puru, Jordan Swann (who off-loaded a deft pass) and Berrell combined to send Kristian Dixon across to score in the south-west corner. Puru converted again from the sideline, sending Newtown into the halftime break with an 18-10 lead. The hard-working Jets middle forward Brad Fearnley had left the field midway through the first half for a HIA assessment and didn’t return to the playing field for the rest of the game. Newtown’s two tries in quick succession close to halftime had really changed the outlook of the game.
Newtown began the second half with a barrage of points that almost certainly put the Rabbitohs out of contention in this match. Souths had a shocker of a start to the second half by knocking on the kick-off, with the Jets scoring from a set play from the scrum. The ball moved through quick hands to the left-side and Ison positioned Taukamo to score his second try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Another burst of fast supporting play saw the impressive Jordin Leiu, Sam Healey, Salesi Ataata and Liam Ison carry the ball right to the South Sydney tryline. From a quick play the ball Niwhai Puru threw a soaring cut-out pass to Kristian Dixon who scored his second try (with Puru’s spiralling pass immediately drawing comparisons to the superb Sam Healey-Kristian Dixon try against Parramatta on the previous Saturday).
The Jets points-scoring onslaught continued, with the livewire Liam Ison dummying his way past the Rabbitohs outside backs to score near the posts. Newtown had now scored five tries in the space of five minutes before and nine minutes after the halftime break.
With Newtown now in the lead 32-10, the match looked like developing into a rout. The Jets nearly scored again soon after Ison’s try, with the ball being thrown about (along with a couple of adventurous grubber-kicks) in a style that led one Newtown old-timer in the crowd to observe that “the Jets were playing like the 1951 Frenchmen!”
South Sydney’s defence tightened up considerably and Newtown’s points-scoring blitz was slowed down. Midway through the second half Puru directed a grubber-kick towards the left-hand upright that was snapped by the ever-alert Blake Hosking who scored Newtown’s seventh try. Puru’s conversion took Newtown’s lead out to 38-10, which proved to be the Jets last points for the game.
Souths scored in the 67th minute, their first points since the tenth minute of the first half. Newtown had a couple of more scoring chances late in the game but Souths improved defence and some erratic ball-handling by the Jets saw the score remain at 38-16 in Newtown’s favour.
The Jets will take on some tough opposition when they meet the competition leaders North Sydney on Sunday, 11th August at North Sydney Oval, with this much-anticipated match kicking off at 3.00pm. This game is also the deciding leg of the 2024 Frank Hyde Shield series.
Newtown 38:
Siteni Taukamo 2, Kristian Dixon 2, Niwhai Puru, Liam Ison, Blake Hosking tries; Niwhai Puru 5 conversions
defeated
South Sydney 16:
Leon Te Hau, Peter Mamouzelos, Shaquai Mitchell tries; Brent Hawkins 2 conversions.
NSWRL TV Highlights || NSW Cup, Round 22 || Newtown v South Sydney || Henson Park || Saturday, 3rd August 2024: CLICK HERE
A great ball from Niwhai Puru: Puru's floating pass finds winger Kristian Dixon unmarked and he grabs his second try of the day: CLICK HERE
NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table after 22 rounds: CLICK HERE
Did you miss the game on Saturday? Here are all the Newtown Jets tries: CLICK HERE
Saturday's teams were:
Newtown
Fullback: Liam Ison
Wingers: Siteni Taukamo, Kristian Dixon
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Jordan Swann
Halves: Jayden Berrell, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Billy Burns (Captain)
Front-Rowers: Lachlan Jake Crouch, Brad Fearnley
Hooker: Sam Healey
Interchange: Jordin Leiu, Billy Magoulias, Salesi Ataata, Josh Cook
Coach: George Ndaira.
South Sydney:
Fullback: Bayleigh Bentley-Hape
Wingers: Leon Te Hau, Izaac Tu’itupou Thompson
Centres: Adam Christensen, Leonard Skelton
Halves: Jarrett Subloo, Brent Hawkins
Lock: Liam Le Blanc
Second-Rowers: Matthew French, Henry O’Kane,
Front-Rowers: Shaquai Mitchell, Brock Gray
Hooker: Peter Mamouzelos (Captain)
Interchange: Ryan Gray, Yileen Gordon, Chase Chapman, Vasili Tsikrikas
Coach: Joe O’Callaghan.
Match Timeline: - First Half:
South Sydney kicked off with Newtown running to the Sydenham Road end.
4th minute: Leon Te Hau try.
Not converted. South Sydney 4-0.
12th minute: Peter Mamouzelos try.
Brent Hawkins conversion. South Sydney 10-0.
19m30s: Siteni Taukamo try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. South Sydney 10-6.
24th minute: Brad Fearnley – HIA.
34th minute: Niwhai Puru try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 12-10.
37m30s: Kristian Dixon try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 18-10.
39th minute: 18th player activated.
Tyla Tamou on, Brad Fearnley off.
Half-Time: Newtown led 18-10.
Second Half:
41st minute: Siteni Taukamo try.
Not converted. Newtown 22-10.
45th minute: Kristian Dixon try.
Not converted. Newtown 26-10.
48m30s: Liam Ison try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 32-10.
62m30s: Blake Hosking try.
Converted by Niwhai Puru. Newtown 38-10.
67m30s: Shaquai Mitchell try.
Converted by Brent Hawkins. Newtown 38-16.
Full-Time: Newtown 38 defeated South Sydney 16.
Match Statistics: - Newtown (N), South Sydney (SS).
Top performing players: -
Blake Hosking (N): Most tackles – 33
Kristian Dixon (N): Most run metres – 195
Siteni Taukamo (N): Most line breaks – 4.
Possession: N 59%, SS 41%
Time in possession: N 25.50s, SS 17.50s
Completion rate: N 79%, SS 68%
All runs: N 187, SS 120
All run metres: N 1657, SS 996
Post-contact metres: N 446, SS 347
Line breaks: N 10, SS 3
Tackle breaks: N 12, SS 25
Average set distance: N 48.7, SS 31.2
Kick return metres: N 157, SS 97
Kicking metres: N 325, SS 237
Forced drop outs: N 2, SS 1
Missed tackles: N 25, SS 12
Errors: N 10, SS 10
Penalties conceded: N 8, SS 6
