A Newtown Jets side bolstered by the inclusion of Sharks contracted players Tinirau Arona and Sami Sauiluma, as well as by the return of workhorse forward Tim Robinson, heads to Muswellbrook this weekend to take on the Wyong Roos.
The game, which is a part of the VB NSW Cup Country Round, where all matches have been taken to regional venues across the state, brings together the fourth and fifth placed teams in what is certain to be a keenly contested match up.
The two teams will bring contrasting styles and personnel lists, with Wyong, the feeder club to the Sydney Roosters in the NSW Cup, featuring a number of up and coming youngsters, up against a Jets outfit mixing youth and experience.
The Jets will again look to fullback Nathan Gardner to inject himself into the game, while halfback Todd Murphy has been solid in the halves in his first season in the NSW Cup.
In the forwards the Newtown side will need the likes of Junior Roqica, Arona, Robinson and Jets prop Ray Moujalli to lead the way should they hope to give opportunities to their outside men.
As a part of their training week the Jets last night scrimmaged against the Sharks NRL squad in a physical session, one coach Greg Matterson hopes will have his team primed for a big performance on Saturday.
Just one place on the ladder separates the two teams, who are both on 14 competition points after 12 rounds, with Wyong having their noses in front due to a superior for-and-against.
The Muswellbrook community is eagerly anticipating the contest, with a number of promotional activities planned to coincide with the match.
Kick off will be at 2.45pm at Muswellbrook’s Olympic Park.
Newtown v Wyong
Olympic Park, Muswellbrook
Saturday, June 6
Kick off 2:45pm
JETS: 1 NATHAN GARDNER 2 DANIEL ABOU-SLEIMAN 3 SAMI SAUILUMA 4 MITCH BROWN 5 NESIASI MATAITONGA 6 DALLAS WELLS 7 TODD MURPHY 8 ANDREW PEARN 9 PAT POLITONI 10 RAY MOUJALLI 11 TINIRAU ARONA 12 JUNIOR ROQICA 13 TIM ROBINSON 14 KURT DILLON 15 KURT KARA 16 PATRICE SIOLO 17 SAULALA HOUMA COACH GREG MATTERSON
ROOS: 1 CHRIS CENTRONE 2 OMAR SLAIMANKHEL 3 BRENDAN ELLIOT 4 BENNETT LESLIE 5 NENE MACDONALD 6 SAMISONI LANGI 7 TYLER CORNISH 8 MAGNUS STROMQUIST 9 MITCH WILLIAMS © 10 ABRAHAM PAPALII 11 JACK SIEJKA 12 LEIVAHA PULU 13 LAGI SETU 14 BROCK MOLAN 15 JAKE LEWIS 16 MATT MCLLWRICK 17 SHAUN BOSS COACH RIP TAYLOR
Referee: Drew Oultram Touch Judges: Mitchell Stone, Brendan Wood
