After a slow start to the season the Newtown Jets, the Sharks partner club in the VB Cup competition, look to extend a three-game win streak when they travel to North Sydney on Sunday to take on traditional rivals the North Sydney Bears.
The Jets have turned an 0-2 start into a three wins and two loss record from their five matches to date and again with a large contingent of Sharks-contracted players on deck will hope to add to their win percentage and to take another step up the NSW Cup ladder.
The Jets will have half back Todd Murphy back on deck after he withdrew with a pec injury on the day of the game, while the backline is again dominated by Sharks players, the majority of who have an abundance of NRL experience.
The match is scheduled for a 3.00pm Sunday kick off at North Sydney Oval.
See the NSWRL.COM preview to follow, plus a link to game highlights from last weekend’s NSW Cup round and all the team lists and game details for round six matches.
From NSWRL.COM
It’s been a rough start for the bottom-of-the-table North Sydney Bears and it doesn’t get any easier as they face the Newtown Jets who are riding a three-game win streak.
The Bears stand with their sole win of the season but it’s not their lack of effort that has let them down.
“It’s been a lack of experience when we get in front that has let us down,” Bears coach Wayne Lambkin said.
“We’ve led four of the five games including Penrith with no experience in our side. We’re certainly performing better than last year, it’s just time to finish off the game and the last 15 minutes of the last two games has let us down.”
North Sydney suffered two tough consecutive losses in which they led in both contests against the Warriors and Canterbury Bulldogs.
Although the Bears’ halves combination of Brad Wall and Nikko Roberts have shown promising signs in the VB NSW Cup there is still plenty to learn for them.
“We have two inexperienced halves,” Lambkin said. “Our last-tackle options haven’t been the best but we’re working on that. They’ve got to go through that experience and follow instructions to improve their game.”
The Jets have exploded for three straight victories after stumbling out of the gates with back-to-back losses and are determined to make it four in a row. However, Lambkin insists his team will keep the focus on his own team.
“We’ll look to prepare ourselves rather than worry about the Jets,” Lambkin said. “It’s us that are losing games rather than us getting beaten.”
Click here for highlights of the Jets Round 5 victory over Wentworthville
Click here for Round 6 VB NSW Cup team lists and match details.
Photo – Mike McGee
