January 8, 2018, will mark a significant day for the Newtown RLFC, with the Jets celebrating their 110th birthday.
One of the Foundation Clubs with a history dating back to the where it all began back in 1908, the Jets are set to again partner with the Sharks in 2018 for what promises to be a serious assault on the NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership.
The Sharks will provide players each round from their NRL squad, those not required in the top grade for a particular week, while the Jets have built up an impressive playing roster for the season ahead.
While the Sharks have been hard at work training under the summer sun, similarly the Newtown squad began their 2018 preparations on Monday, November 13 and there have been large numbers in attendance at both the Newtown gymnasium and at Mahoney Reserve in South Marrickville.
Head coach Greg Matterson, who has also been a regular at Sharks NRL sessions in keeping an eye on the team structures and players he can expect to have access to next year, advises there have been 40 players at the field sessions at Mahoney Reserve and 25 to 28 at the gymnasium (numbers are restricted at the gym).
New Jets signings for 2018 include front-rower Wes Lolo from Wests Tigers and local Sharks junior Anthony Moraitis who returns to Newtown after a season with the Canberra Raiders.
Two other new arrivals are twins Ben and Jesse Marschke from the Sydney Roosters, Ben a hooker and Jesse a half/five-eighth.
Malakai Houma, who was a member of the Sharks fulltime NRL training group last year only to battle through an injury-riddled season, is back in full training and ready for a return in 2018.
Jets players from 2017 who have signed contracts for the upcoming season include Matt Evans, Leigh Higgins, Jimmy Jolliffe, Jayden McDonogh and Reubenn Rennie.
Trialists from the Glebe-Burwood club, the Jets’ new partnership club in the NSWRL Ron Massey Cup competition, have also been training with the Newtown pre-season squad.
The last Newtown training session prior to Christmas is on December 21 and the pre-season program will resume very soon after New Year’s Day.
In recognition of Newtown’s new partnership with the Glebe-Burwood club, the first trial match for 2018 is to be played on Sunday, February 11 at Wentworth Park, the original home ground of the Glebe Dirty Reds RLFC.
Newtown last played a match at this historic Sydney sports venue back in 1927, 90 years ago!
Details of that game are on this link: http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrfl-1927/round-2/newtown-vs-balmain/summary.html
Newtown will also partner with and supply players to the Sharks for trials against Manly and the Wests Tigers.
Details of the 2018 pre-season trials are: -
Sunday, 11th February: Newtown and Glebe versus Blacktown Workers, Intrust Super Premiership and Ron Massey Cup trials, kick-off times to be confirmed.
Saturday, 17th February: NRL, Intrust Super Premiership and Jersey Flegg trials v Manly at Southern Cross Group Stadium, kick-off times to be confirmed.
Saturday, 24th February: NRL, Intrust Super Premiership (Western Suburbs v Newtown) and Jersey Flegg trials at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, kick-off times to be confirmed.
The 2018 Newtown Jets membership packages are now available and you can check out the entire array by going to the following link: http://www.newtownjets.com/jets-membership-2018/
