Following their semi final win over the Warriors last Sunday the Jets move onto week three of the Intrust Super Premiership Finals and a showdown with the Illawarra Cutters.
The Jets put in a determined performance at Pepper Stadium in beating the highly fancied New Zealand side, moving them to within a game of the ISP Grand Final.
The win last week was based on some outstanding efforts in the middle of the park from the Newtown forward pack, with more of the same required should they hope to get the points against the strong Cutters line up.
The Jets will again field a team with a sprinkling of Sharks contacted players led by the likes of skipper Matt McIlwrick, halves Josh Cleeland and Fa’amanu Brown, as well as young back rower Anthony Moraitis who had an excellent game in the last start win.
Also in what will be a boost to the Jets forward strength, Jesse Sene-Lafao, after playing the last five games in the NRL, returns to the Newtown team this weekend.
In all seventh Sharks contracted players will turn out for the Jets, with Jacob Gagan and Junior Roqica also key to the Newtown chances of success.
The Jets v Cutters game is scheduled for a 5.15pm kick-off on Sunday at Leichhardt Oval.
See following a team list and a comprehensive wrap of the Jets win over the Warriors, courtesy of Newtown Jets media.
ISP Team List: Finals Week 3
Jets v Cutters
Sunday, September 18
Leichhardt Oval
Kick-off – 5.15pm
1 Jaline Graham
2 Corin Smith
17 Kenny Niko
4 Matt Evans
5 Jacob Gagan
6 Josh Cleeland
7 Fa'amanu Brown
8 Junior Roqica
9 Matt McIlwrick ©
10 Jesse Sene-Lefao
11 Malakai Houma
12 Anthony Moraitis
13 Kurt Kara
Interchange
14 Jason Schirnack
15 Brent Anderson
16 Kurt Dillon
20 Harrison Muller
21 Saulala Houma
26 Arana Taumata
By Newtown Jets Media
Jets forwards lay the foundations
It might have been played in front of a sparse crowd at far-flung Penrith, but Newtown’s 22-18 elimination semi-final win against the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday evening was probably one of the club’s most significant victories in recent years.
The Jets defied the widely-held truism that the team with the most players with NRL experience will usually win an Intrust Super Premiership match. The Warriors fielded twelve players with NRL experience on Sunday as opposed to Newtown’s six, but the Jets out-bustled and out-enthused their bigger opponents. The scores were 8-all at half-time but Newtown broke out to a 20-8 lead early in the second half and hung on for their eventual 22-18 win.
Newtown now advances to a preliminary final appointment against the Illawarra Cutters next Sunday (18th September) at Leichhardt Oval at 5.15pm. Wests Tigers and Mounties will also meet at Leichhardt in the other preliminary final on Sunday at 3.15pm.
Newtown 22
Josh Cleeland, Corin Smith, Matt McIlwrick, Kurt Kara tries; Fa’amanu Brown 2 conversions and 1 penalty goal
defeated
New Zealand Warriors
Henare Wells 2, Nathaniel Roache, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad tries; Mason Lino 1 goal.
Half-Time: 8-all.
Weather: Fine, mild, 17 degrees.
Newtown’s team
Jaline Graham, Corin Smith, Matt Evans, Kenny Niko, Jacob Gagan, Josh Cleeland, Fa’amanu Brown, Kurt Kara, Jason Schirnack, Anthony Moraitis, Junior Roqica, Matt McIlwrick (Capt), Malakai Houma. Bench: Kurt Dillon, Harrison Muller, Arana Taumata, Saulala Houma, Brent Anderson (18th man). Coach: Greg Matterson.
New Zealand Warriors:
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Henare Wells, George Carmont, Matthew Allwood, Ken Maumalo, Ata Hingano, Mason Lino (Capt), Jazz Tevaga, John Palavi, Shaun Lane, James Gavet, Nathaniel Roache, Upu Poching. Bench: Toatofoa Sipley, James Bell, Viliami Kaveinga, Daniel Palavi. Coach: Stacey Jones.
Match timeline highlights:
Warriors kicked off to the southern end of Pepper Stadium.
Warriors in possession for an extended period at Newtown’s end.
5th min: Nathaniel Roache scores 10m to the left of southern goal posts.
Not converted. Warriors 4-0.
Warriors go very close to scoring again in the 12th min.
Jacob Gagan makes a great relieving run for Newtown.
13th min: Penalty to Newtown 40m out from the Warriors line.
14th min: Josh Cleeland dummies his way across the line to score 10m to the right of northern goal posts. Not converted by Nu Brown. 4-all.
The crowd might be small but the Jets supporters are in full voice.
20th min: Anthony Moraitis does a great one on one steal.
Jets force a goal-line drop-out.
In-goal kick by Newtown goes dead, 7 tackle set to NZW
Penalty to NZW 30 metres away from the Newtown try-line (25th min)
NZW lose the ball close to Jets line, then Newtown gets a relieving penalty
27th min: Cross-field kick by Nu Brown into the northern left-hand corner, grounded for a try by Corin Smith
Not converted by Nu Brown. Jets lead 8-4.
Exceptional defence by Newtown on their own line in the 32nd and 33rd minutes
Newtown defended against three consecutive sets to NZW
Penalty to Newtown in 34th min was badly needed
Flamboyant ball-play by NZW ends in a cross field kick into right-hand southern corner, caught on the full by Henare Wells who scores.
38th min: Not converted by Mason Lino. 8-all.
Half-Time: 8-all.
42nd min: Matt McIlwrick backs up the middle and gets to the line just to the left of the southern goal-posts.
Converted by Nu Brown. Newtown 14-8.
NZW turn the ball over twice in quick succession.
Warriors starting to look disorganised and slightly panicky, tending to run one out.
51st min: Borderline pass by McIlwrick to Kurt Kara sees the Waikato product run a superb angle to score under the posts.
52nd min: Nu Brown converts. Newtown 20-8.
Now the NZW have a task in front of them.
Jets forwards starting to play like men on a mission.
Warriors midfield defence starting to break up.
Matt Evans snaps up a dangerous NZW kick in behind the Jets defensive line
Newtown attacking the NZW line; six again to the Jets then they get a penalty in the 59th min.
Penalty is in front of the posts. Nu Brown kicks the penalty goal and the Jets lead 22-8 in the 61st min.
More strong Newtown defence on their own line NZW throwing their heaviest artillery at the Jets but they’re hanging in there
Mason Lino kicks to the right side of the field and Wells catches the ball to score his second try (68th min)
Not conv. Newtown leads 22-12.
Jets playing smart, running down the clock and kicking into the corners.
Jason Schirnack went off with a leg muscle injury in the second half.
Josh Cleeland is helped off in the 75th min.
Try to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in 77th min, converted by Mason Lino.
Jets lead 22-18 in 78th min.
Frenetic ball play by NZW but the Jets defend the last set.
Full-Time: Newtown wins 22-18.
Stop Press: From the Brad Fittler Medal awards night on Monday night:
Newtown’s Kurt Capewell nominated as the ISP NSW Player of the Year. Kurt didn’t win the award but our inside mail is that he went very close.
