With the Sharks potentially looking for players to step up during the State of Origin period a number NRL squad members delivered timely reminders as to their abilities in playing major roles in Newtown’s 54-6 thrashing of the Wentworthville Magpies in their Intrust Super Premiership match yesterday.
Fa’amanu Brown was dynamic, young outside back Jordan Drew scored three tries, Matt McIlwrick was sharp out of dummy half and other Sharks in the Jets line-up impressed in the 10-try romp.
The Jets were on the board when Drew scored the first of his three tries in just the second minute and from there the crowd at Henson Park was treated to an attacking master class, with the Jets running up a big half time lead before going on with the job after the break.
The first half saw Drew and winger Travis Robinson reap the rewards of the strong play by those inside them with both crossing twice in the opening 40-minutes.
A fifth try of the half by rangy back rower Luke Capewell, converted by Brown made it 26-0, leaving the Magpies and their coach Nathan Cayless searching for answers after the break.
Rather than a rear-guard action from Wentworthville however the Jets returned to the field with the same intent, Drew then Robinson going over again and at 36-0 with still 25 minutes remaining the result may have been beyond doubt but the Jets were far from finished.
Nu Brown capped over an impressive afternoon with a solo try in the 64th minute when he won the race to his own grubber kick, before fullback and skipper Mitch Brown went over in pushing the score out to 48-0.
Jaline Graham completed the Jets try-scoring, before a consolation try from the Magpies put them in the scoreboard in the dying moments of the match.
It was a win which not only secured the Jets position towards the top of the ladder but it also provided a welcome boost to their for-and-against percentage and sent a message to other contenders in the ISP competition.
The Jets are at home at Henson Park again next Saturday when they play the New Zealand Warriors.
Newtown 54
Travis Robinson 3, Jordan Drew 3, Mitch Brown, Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Capewell, Jaline Graham tries, Fa’amanu Brown 7 goals
beat
Wentworthville 6
Honeti Tuha try, Michael Doolan goal
