Jets take possession of the Wilson-Blacklock Cup with a thrilling away win against the Panthers

Newtown pulled two competition points out of the fire through a late converted try, enabling the Jets to defeat Penrith 20-16 in the enthralling NSW Cup match played at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers fielded their strongest team for several weeks, with a number of players with NRL experience in their line-up on Saturday.

The Panthers were no doubt motivated by the prospect of exacting vengeance for their crushing defeat at Henson Park four weeks previously.

Newtown scored two converted tries in the first half, the first by halfback Daniel Atkinson when he regathered his high kick that had been spilled by a Penrith player, allowing Atkinson a clear run to score.

The Jets had to defend successive sets on their own line and then moved the ball downfield. A quick shift to the left side resulted in centre Mawene Hiroti scoring Newtown’s second try, when he beat four defenders on his way to the try-line.

Newtown went in to half-time with a 12-0 lead, but Penrith had shown enough in the first half to make it clear that they were still in the game.

The Panthers began the second half with considerable confidence, scoring a converted try in the 46th minute to trail 12-6.

Newtown received a penalty within goal-kicking range after an incident in which a Panthers forward was placed on report. Mawene Hiroti’s penalty goal extended Newtown’s lead out to 14-6.

The Panthers clearly had control of the game in the third quarter, scoring two tries in successive sets that enabled Penrith to take the lead for the first time in the match.

Penrith led 16-14 with twenty minutes left to play, but Newtown stiffened their defence to prevent any further point-scoring by the Panthers.

The Jets took advantage of a bomb into the north-east corner that was knocked on by a Penrith player. From the ensuing scrum Jayden Berrell sent a long ball to centre Chris Vea’ila, who cleverly put the ball around the back of a Panthers defender giving winger Sam Stonestreet the chance to dive over in the corner in the 75th minute. Hiroti’s sideline conversion gave Newtown a 20-16 lead that they defended to the full-time siren.

The two clubs have had contrasting fortunes in recent weeks – this was Newtown’s seventh win in eight matches, while the Panthers have now lost several games in a row.

Coach George Ndaira was pleased with the fact that the Jets had not lost their nerve when Penrith took the lead near the midway point of the second half. Newtown seized the opportunity late in the game to regain the lead, although it must have been nerve-wracking for the Jets supporters at the ground and for those watching the match on the NSWRL TV coverage.

Coach Ndaira nominated Mawene Hiroti as being one of Newtown’s best players, along with praise for his flawless goal-kicking display. Mr Ndaira also mentioned the strong performances of the forwards Jesse Colquhoun, Blake Hosking and Braden Hamlin-Uele. Halfback Daniel Atkinson was identified as one of Newtown’s best players on Saturday by the NSWRL TV commentary team. In the jubilant Jets’ dressing-room there was also favourable mention made of Chris Vea’ila’s masterful pass that sent Sam Stonestreet over in the north-eastern corner for the winning try.

Newtown’s win over Penrith gave the Jets custody of the Ken Wilson-Ray Blacklock Cup for the first time since this trophy was instituted.

The Jets take on the Sydney Roosters at Wentworth Park, Glebe on Saturday, 29th June at 2.30pm. Newtown fans will have bitter memories of the Jets loss to the Roosters at this venue last year – a defeat that contributed to Newtown narrowly missing a place in the finals.

Match details:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 16
Saturday, 22nd June 2024
BlueBet Stadium, Penrith
Penrith v Newtown
Kick-Off: 2.00pm.

This match was the second leg in the Ken Wilson-Ray Blacklock Cup series for 2024.

The match was livestreamed on the NSWRL TV service.

Weather: Overcast; rain was forecast but held off; 13 degrees.
Playing surface: Excellent.

Referee: Daniel Luttringer.

Touch Judges: Mitchell Stone and Luke Heckendorf.



Match result:

Newtown 20:
Daniel Atkinson, Mawene Hiroti, Sam Stonestreet tries;
Mawene Hiroti 3 conversions and 1 penalty goal
defeated
Penrith 16:
Luke Sommerton, Mavrik Geyer, Daeon Amituanai tries;
Trent Toelau 2 conversions.

Half-Time: Newtown led 12-0.



Team details:

Newtown’s team was:
Fullback: Liam Ison
Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Sam Stonestreet
Centres: Chris Vea’ila, Mawene Hiroti
Halves: Khaled Rajab, Daniel Atkinson
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Billy Burns (Captain)
Front-Rowers: Jesse Colquhoun, Braden Hamlin-Uele
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange:
Brad Fearnley, Billy Magoulias, Sam Healey, Jordin Leiu
Reserve: Rhys Dakin
Coach: George Ndaira

Penrith’s team:
Fullback: Isaiah Iongi
Wingers: Nick Murphy, Daeon Amituanai
Centres: Asu Kepaoa, David Fale
Halves: Tyrone Peachey (Captain), Trent Toelau
Lock: Luron Patea
Second-Rowers: Mavrik Geyer, Zac P Lipowicz
Front-Rowers: Jordan Grant, Preston Riki
Hooker: Luke Sommerton
Interchange:
Alex Seve, Riley Price, Austin Dias, Faleata Iosefa

Reserve: Niko Apelu
Coach: Ben Harden.



Social media details:

Sam Stonestreet’s winning try at BlueBet Stadium, Penrith on Saturday, 22nd June 2024:

Post-match interview with the Newtown RLFC head coach, George Ndaira, Saturday, 22nd June 2024:
https://www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc/videos/356196587229049

The NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table after 16 rounds:

https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=16&season=2024

NSWRL TV Highlights | NSW Cup | Panthers v Jets – Round 16

https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2024/06/22/nswrl-tv-highlights–nsw-cup-panthers-v-jets—round-16

Match Timeline:
First Half:
Newtown kicked off, running to the southern end of BlueBet Stadium.
11th minute: Daniel Atkinson try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti. Newtown 6-0.
25th minute: Tyrone Peachey (Penrith) on report.
27th minute: Mawene Hiroti try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti. Newtown 12-0.
Half-Time: Newtown led 12-0.
Second Half:
45th minute: Luke Sommerton (Penrith) try.
Converted by Trent Toelau. Newtown 12-6.

49th minute: Zac Lipowicz (Penrith) on report.
50th minute: Mawene Hiroti penalty goal. Newtown 14-6.
53rd minute: Mavrik Geyer (Penrith) try.
Converted by Trent Toelau. Newtown 14-12.
56th minute: Daeon Amituanai (Penrith) try.
Not converted. Penrith 16-14.
75th minute: Sam Stonestreet try.
Converted by Mawene Hiroti. Newtown 20-16.
Full-Time: Newtown 20 defeated Penrith 16.

Match Statistics: –
Newtown (N), Penrith (P):
Possession: N 50%, P 50%
Time in possession: P 27.10s; N 26.55s
Completion Rate: P 78%, N 86%
All runs: P 177, N 178
All run metres: P 1760, N 1596
Post-contact metres: P 586, N 514
Line breaks: P 5, N 4
Tackle breaks: P 32, N 36

Average set distance: P 46.30, N 43.15
Kick return metres: P 195, N 111
Average play the ball speed: P 3.23s, N 3.5s
Offloads: P 13, N 5
Receipts: P 398, N 385
Total passes: P 214, N 205
Dummy passes: P 12, N 12
Kicks: P 20, N 21
Kicking metres: P 680, N 591
Forced drop outs: P 4, N 0

Kick defusals: P 57%, N 100%
Bombs: P 4, N 10
Grubbers: P 3, N 2
Effective tackles: P 88.97%, N 85.49%
Tackles made: P 355, N 330
Missed tackles: P 36, N 32
Ineffective tackles: P 8, N 24
Errors: P 10, N 7
Penalties conceded: P 6, N 4
Ruck infringements: P 0, N 1
Inside the 10 metres: P 0, N 1
On reports: P 2, N 0

Interchanges: P 8, N 10.

Details of Newtown’s next game:

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 17
Saturday, 29th June 2024
Wentworth Park, Glebe
Sydney Roosters v Newtown
Kick-Off: 2.30pm.

This match will be live-streamed on NSWRL TV (subscription required).