Niwhai Puru booted Newtown into the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup grand final with a flawless goal-kicking display on Saturday in a dramatic 18-16 comeback win over Canberra at Leichhardt Oval.
Halfback Puru landed two conversions and three penalty goals as the Jets overcame a 12-0 deficit in a see-sawing encounter to book a place in next Sunday's decider against the North Sydney Bears at CommBank Stadium.
Having comfortably beaten the Raiders in week one of the finals before narrowly falling to the Bears, the Jets were forced to dig deep to get over the line this time.
Canberra pressed hard in the dying minutes after recovering the ball from a short kick-off, but Newtown stood tall and turned them away set after set. An intercept from winger Sam Stonestreet saved a try and relieved the pressure.
The result thrilled the vocal crowd featuring several Sharks NRL stars including Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall, who turned out to watch their clubmates.
It was all the Raiders early doors, with Simi Sasagi and Hohepa Puru – the brother of Jets playmaker Niwhai – propelling the Green Machine to a commanding lead.
But Newtown quickly worked their way back into the contest, registering their first try when Jayden Berrell craftily burrowed over from dummy-half.
While Canberra missed an opportunity to inch further ahead with a wayward penalty goal shot, the Jets threatened to bust the game open late in the first half.
Interchange hooker Sam Healey and second-rower Billy Burns burst into the clear for no reward, with the Bluebags unable to finish off the clean breaks.
Their luck changed after half-time, however, as the Jets rode the momentum of back-to-back penalties to score on the right edge through centre Chris Vea'ila.
Niwhai Puru's conversion locked the scores and he soon added the first of his penalty goals, putting Newtown in front for the first time in the match.
Raiders centre James Schiller ensured the lead was short-lived, powering his way across the stripe in the 55th minute. Adam Cook couldn't convert.
Canberra blundered off the ensuing kick-off, putting a foot into touch and inviting the Jets to attack. They couldn't capitalise as Liam Ison's grubber for himself was safely collected and brought back into the field of play by his opposite number.
Newtown's bold call to decline a simple shot at penalty goal and tie the scores proved fruitless, but they didn't make the same mistake twice. Puru's boot squared the ledger at 16-all in the 67th minute, setting up a grandstand finish.
The Jets No.7 then calmly potted the decisive strike off the tee in the 72nd minute before the Bluebags desperately defended and scrapped their way to victory.
