Jets winning streak ends with narrow loss to the North Sydney Bears

Newtown’s run of six NSW Cup victories in a row came to an end at Henson Park on Saturday when North Sydney defeated the Jets 16-12, after the Bears had led 12-0 at halftime.

It was an absorbing contest, exhibiting a standard of play worthy of two teams in the top three of the competition. Norths now move to the top of the NSW Cup premiership table, as a result of the Canberra Raiders having drawn their match against South Sydney. 

Newtown is now in fourth place, after the Canterbury Bulldogs moved into third place having gained two points from the bye. In addition to losing out narrowly to the Bears, the inclement weather jeopardised the Jets’ hopes of drawing a big crowd to Henson Park on Saturday afternoon.

Norths outfoxed Newtown to some extent by way of their well-considered game plan which featured a high completion rate, determined defence and an effective kick-chase game. Newtown’s in-form wingers Tom Rodwell and Sam Stonestreet were denied the try-scoring opportunities that had been a feature of Newtown’s recent games.

There were no points scored until the 23rd minute, when the North Sydney captain Kurt De Luis gathered in a grubber kick into the Jets’ in-goal zone.

Five minutes later the Bears moved the ball from the left side of the field through several passes, leading to an opportunity that opened up on the right edge with a somewhat controversial try being scored to the right of the northern end goal posts.

Norths had defended staunchly at their own end when required to do so, and they took a 12-0 lead into the halftime break.

The Bears increased this lead with a penalty goal early in the second half, but Newtown proved there were ways of breaching Norths’ defensive wall when Jets forward Billy Magoulias powered over beside the posts after running off a well-delivered flat pass from Sam Healey.

Norths increased their lead to 16-6 through another penalty goal twelve minutes out from fulltime. The Jets finally broke through again, with just four minutes left to play, when halfback Niwhai Puru’s clever kick in behind the Bears defensive line was gathered in by Newtown’s captain Billy Burns who scored. The Jets threw further attacking sorties at Norths in the frantic final minutes, but the Bears hung onto their 16-12 lead.

Jets coach George Ndaira noted after the game that it had clearly been a hard-fought match between the two teams placed second and third on the table, with each team scoring two converted tries and two second-half penalty goals to North Sydney providing the decisive edge.

Ndaira also observed that Newtown hadn’t taken the best advantage of the opportunities they had to win this game. Norths had adopted a tight, grinding style of play that the Jets hadn’t really encountered in other NSW Cup games this year. Norths are partnered with the Melbourne Storm NRL juggernaut and have obviously learned from the Storm’s renowned defensive strategies.

Jets captain Billy Burns commented after the game that the Bears had employed a low-mistake, high completion rate, long kicking style of rugby league that the Jets will need to counter when the two clubs next meet. Newtown’s next NSW Cup fixture is against the Penrith Panthers next Saturday, 22nd June, at the BlueBet Stadium, Penrith with this match scheduled to commence at 2.00pm. This match will be livestreamed  on the NSWRL TV subscription service.

The Panthers will be seeking to avenge their 44-6 loss to Newtown at Henson Park a month ago, which had been the Panthers most decisive NSW Cup defeat in the past ten years. Both the Cronulla Sharks and Penrith Panthers have byes in the NRL competition this coming weekend.

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
Round 15
Saturday, 15th June 2024
Henson Park
Newtown v North Sydney
Kick-Off: 3.00pm.

This match was the first leg of the 2024 Frank Hyde Shield series contested between Newtown and North Sydney.

The match was livestreamed by NSWRL TV (which is a subscription service).

Weather: 13 degrees Celsius; overcast; rain had been falling earlier in the day.
Playing surface: Excellent.

Match Result:
North Sydney 16:
Kurt De Luis, Matt Stimson tries;

Kieran Hayman 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals

defeated
Newtown 12:
Billy Magoulias, Billy Burns tries;
Mawene Hiroti 2 conversions.

Halftime: North Sydney led 12-0.

NSWRL TV Highlights – NSW Cup, Round 15 – Newtown Jets v North Sydney Bears – Henson Park – Saturday, 15th June 2024:

https://www.nswrl.com.au/news/2024/06/15/nswrl-tv-highlights–nsw-cup-jets-v-bears—round-15

NSWRL Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition table after 15 rounds:
https://www.nswrl.com.au/ladder/?competition=113&round=15&season=2024

Newtown coach George Ndaira’s post-match observations:

https://www.facebook.com/newtownrlfc/videos/2196328134047925

Newtown’s team:
Fullback: Liam Ison
Wingers: Tom Rodwell, Sam Stonestreet
Centres: Mawene Hiroti, Jackson Ferris
Halves: Daniel Atkinson, Niwhai Puru
Lock: Blake Hosking
Second-Rowers: Kyle Pickering, Billy Burns (Captain)
Front-Rowers: Tuku Hau Tapuha, Rhys Dakin
Hooker: Jayden Berrell
Interchange: Jesse Colquhoun, Billy Magoulias, Sam Healey, Salesi Ataata

Reserve: Khaled Rajab
Blue Shirt Trainer: Tom Haberecht
Yellow Shirt Trainer: Fletcher Graham

Orange Shirt Trainer: Chris Moubarak
Coach: George Ndaira.

North Sydney:
Fullback: Jake Toby
Wingers: Allan Fitzgibbon, Israel Ogden
Centres: Matt Stimson, Kieran Hayman
Halves: Harradyn Wilson, Ben Stevanovic
Lock: Ben Talty
Second-Rowers: Ativalu Ligati, Luke Hodge
Front-Rowers: Kurt DE Luis (Captain), Regan Hughes
Hooker: Rua Ngatikaura
Interchange: Jayden Yates, Josh Bevan, Phillip Makatoa, Jerry Key
Reserve: Caleb Tohi
Blue Shirt Trainer: Brent Banning
Yellow Shirt Trainer: John Michael
Orange Shirt Trainer: Nathan Stevens
Coach: Pat Weisner.

Match Timeline:
First half:
North Sydney kicked off to the northern end of Henson Park.

23rd minute: Kurt De Luis try
Kieran Hayman conversion. North Sydney 6-0.
28th minute: Matt Stimson try
Kieran Hayman conversion. North Sydney 12-0.
Halftime: North Sydney led 12-0.
Second Half:
42.30s: Kieran Hayman penalty goal. North Sydney 14-0.

50th minute: Billy Magoulias try
Mawene Hiroti conversion. North Sydney 14-6.
68th minute: Kieran Hayman penalty goal. North Sydney 16-6.
75.30s: Billy Burns try.
Mawene Hiroti conversion. North Sydney 16-12.
Fulltime: North Sydney 16 defeated Newtown 12.

Match Statistics: –
Newtown (N); North Sydney (NS).
Possession: N 51%, NS 49%
Time in possession: N 25.30s, NS 23.10s
Completions: N 75%, NS 82%
All runs: N 168, NS 158
All run metres: N 1679, NS 1420
Post contact metres: N 602, NS 568
Line breaks: N 1, NS 1
Tackle breaks: N 22, NS 32
Average set distance: N 45.4, NS 41.8
Kick return metres: N 74, NS 81
Average play the ball speed: N 3.29s, NS 3.48s
Offloads: N 4, NS 4
Receipts: N 373, NS 344
Total passes: N 211, NS 174
Dummy passes: N 17, NS 9
Kicks: N 16, NS 21
Kicking metres: N 287, NS 605
Forced drop outs: N 3, NS 2
Kick defusal: N 57%, NS 67%
Bombs: N 8, NS 4
Grubbers: N 6, NS 5
Effective tackles: N 89%, NS 92%
Tackles made: N 298, NS 327
Missed tackles: N 32, NS 22
Ineffective tackles: N 5, NS 8
Errors: N 13, NS 10
Penalties conceded: N 10, NS 5
Ruck infringements: N 1, NS 4
On report: N 2, NS 0
Jayden Berrell (Newtown): 41 tackles
Tuku Hau Tapuha (Newtown): 195 run metres.

Newtown’s next 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 will be livestreamed on NSWRL TV (subscription required).