It’s a long way from being ‘must win’ time in the 2017 season however the Jets head to Pepper Stadium on Sunday in search of a victory that would help to keep them keep touch with the leading teams in the Intrust Super Premiership.
The Jets were much improved in a 24-20 loss to the Warriors last weekend and while it was little consolation, with the Newtown side returning home from New Zealand without the all-important two competition points, there were some good signs heading into this week’s clash with the Panthers in Penrith.
The forwards led by Sam Tagataese and Joseph Paulo aimed up against the big Warriors pack, while Jordan Drew made a bid for NRL consideration with a strong performance out wide. In addition to his two tries, one an individual effort showing impressive strength to get the ball down, Drew proved handful to the New Zealand defence almost every time he touched the ball.
Edge backrowers Tony Williams and Jayden Walker also had their moments for the Jets in the narrow loss.
But rather than resting on the laurels of a solid outing in New Zealand, the Jets will need to maintain their performance levels against a Penrith side looking to rebound after a loss to the Bulldogs last weekend.
The Panthers went down by 18-14 to the Bulldogs despite having NRL stars Matt Moylan, Peter Hiku and Waqa Blake in their ISP team after the trio was relegated due to disciplinary reasons.
The Jets will be pleased to hear the three have been included in the NRL squad to take on the Sharks however their task still presents as a difficult one against a strong Panthers side.
At time of publishing the Jets team was also somewhat unknown, with xxxx and xxxx included in the Sharks NRL 19-man squad as well as the Newtown team list.
The Jets v Panthers match is the first of three games to be played at Pepper Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 11.45pm.
Newtown’s next game details and team list
ISP Team List – Round 7
Jets v Panthers
Sunday, April 16
Pepper Stadium
Kick-off – 11.45am
1 Edrick Lee
2 Matt Evans
3 Jordan Drew
4 Jesse Ramien
5 James Tuitahi
6 Penani Manumalaelii
7 Fa'amanu Brown
8 Kurt Dillon
9 Kurt Kara
10 Sam Tagataese
11 Tony Williams
12 Jayden Walker
13 Joseph Paulo
Interchange
14 Jaimin Jolliffe
15 Jack Williams
17 Kenny Niko
18 Manaia Cherrington
26 Leigh Higgins
By Newtown Jets Media
Jets get very close to toppling the undefeated competition leaders.
Newtown took a strong side to Auckland for this 6th round Intrust Super Premiership match against the undefeated New Zealand Warriors. After what coach Greg Matterson described at fulltime as the team’s best performance so far this season, the Jets still came up just short of a winning result.
The Warriors led 10-8 at half-time and opened up a 24-14 lead with nine minutes to play. Newtown pulled back to trail 24-20 with two minutes to go but the Warriors survived the Jets’ late surge.
NSWRL Intrust Super Premiership NSW – 6th Round
New Zealand Warriors v Newtown
Sunday, 9th April 2017
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Kick-Off: 11.45 am (NZT).
The match was televised live on Sky Sports (NZ) and Fox League 502 (Australia).
Referee: Kasey Badger. Touch Judges: Nathan Parker-Pringle and Shane Rehm.
New Zealand Warriors 24
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2, David Palavi, Albert Vete, Ofahiki Ogden tries; Lino Mason 2 conversions from 5 attempts
defeated
Newtown 20
Jordan Drew 2, Jayden Walker, Sam Tagataese tries; Fa’amanu Brown 2 conversions from 4 attempts.
Half-Time: New Zealand Warriors led 10-8.
Weather: Fine, mild, sunny, southerly breeze.
Temperature: 20 Degrees C, low humidity.
Newtown’s team
Leigh Higgins, Matt Evans, Jesse Ramien, Jordan Drew, Edrick Lee, Penani Manumalealii, Fa’amanu Brown, Joseph Paulo, Tony Williams, Jayden Walker, Sam Tagataese, Tepatasi Fuiavailili, Kurt Kara. Bench: Jaimin Jolliffe, Jack Williams, Kenny Niko, Manaia Cherrington. Coach: Greg Matterson.
New Zealand Warriors
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Junior Pauga, Matt Allwood, Semisi Fotu, Tuimoala Lolohea, Ata Hingano, Mason Lino, James Bell, Ofahiki Ogden, Bunty Afoa, Patrick Sipley, Jazz Tevaga, Albert Vete. Bench: Chris Satae, Daniel Palavi, Sam Cook, Toafofoa Sipley. Coach: Ricky Henry.
The two coaches after-match comments
Greg Matterson (Newtown):
“This was the best we’ve played this season, but the truth is we still lost. The Warriors kicking game at Newtown’s end of the field was more effective than ours. I wasn’t disappointed with our effort, just aspects of our execution. We didn’t nail certain plays that ultimately made the difference.”
Ricky Henry (New Zealand Warriors)
“The Warriors rose to the challenge in this game. They knew that the Jets had several players with a lot of NRL and international experience. I thought our forwards did well up the middle especially in the second half. Our halves Hingano and Lino did well and are key players in this team. The repeat sets we gained made the Jets do extra hard work in defence. We’ve worked very hard at making this a much fitter reserve grade team than previously.”
Match Timeline: -
First Half:
Newtown kicked off, running to the northern end of Mt Smart Stadium.
8th min: Jordan Drew scores in the north-west corner after some good ball handling to create the overlap. Not converted by Nu Brown. Newtown 4-0.
13th min: Warriors go very close in sth-east corner. Great double tackle by Matt Evans and Penani Manumalealii prevents the try.
23rd min: Warriors go very close to scoring again. Jesse Ramien prevents the ty by punching the bouncing ball across the sideline.
25th min: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scores for Warriors in sth east corner. Lino’s conversion attempt bounces away off an upright. 4-all.
30th min: Jordan Drew shows enormous strength and determination to wrestle his way through three determined tacklers to score in from the nth west corner. Not converted by Nu Brown. Newtown 8-4.
34th min: Matt Evans cleans up a dangerous situation in sth east corner, good anticipation shown.
37th min: Midfield break by Mason Lino ends in another try to Nicoll-Klokstad. Converted by Lino. Warriors lead 10-8.
Half-Time: New Zealand Warriors 10 lead Newtown 8.
Second Half:
Repeat sets at the Warriors end put Newtown in a strong attacking position. Newtown actually receives 4 penalties in a row within a few minutes from referee Kasey Badger. Jets kick into the in-goal is defused by Warriors. Strong defence keeps Newtown at bay in this danger period.
52nd min: The pendulum swings as the Warriors now receive repeat penalties at Newtown’s end. David Palavi barges over near the posts, converted by Lino. Warriors lead 16-8.
57th min: Try to Jayden Walker to the right of southern goal posts. Warriors fans howl their disapproval at Badger’s contentious ruling of a try. Converted by Nu Brown. Warriors lead 16-14.
Midfield penalty to Warriors and Sam Cook makes ground from a fast tap.
60th min: Joseph Paulo sin-binned for what referee Badger rules are repeated ruck infringements. Warriors forward Bunty Afoa held up over the line by some exceptional Jets defence.
62nd min: Power wins out as big front-rower Albert Vete scores to the left of northern goal-posts. Lino’s conversion hits the upright. Warriors lead 20-14.
71st min: Critical set for Jets at Warriors end but kick into the in-goal runs dead
73rd min: Warriors forwards carry the ball a long way downfield in one set. Ofahiki Ogden runs into a defensive gap and scores. Not converted by Lino. Warriors lead 24-14.
78th min: Midfield break by Nu Brown, Sam Tagataese backs up to score under the southern goal-posts. Brown converts. Warriors lead 24-20. Jets don’t get another shot at the Warriors end, midfield chip kick cleaned up by Nicoll-Klokstad.
Full-Time: NZ Warriors 24 defeated Newtown 20.
All other ISP NSW 6th round results plus the updated ISP NSW competition table: http://live.nswrl.com.au/comp/3ec60a38ee446fb80?r=ddfa017874e1f2b97
