They left it late against the Panthers, a last-minute try to Jayden Walker and a Fa’amanu Brown sideline conversion saw the Jets sneak home with a win in a heart-stopper, more like a heart-breaker for their opponents, in what was a thrilling match at Pepper Stadium.
The Jets had trailed all game and even when Edrick Lee accepted an intercept inside the last 10 minutes and ran 90-metres to narrow the margin to just four points, a Newtown win still seemed unlikely.
That was until the Leigh Higgins break, followed by the Penani Manumalealli chip kick for Walker to touch down, turned the result and sent Jets fans into a frenzy.
This week however they may not be given similar opportunities should they fall behind a Wyong Roos outfit which has been impressive over the first seven rounds of the Intrust Super Premiership.
The Roos, who beat North Sydney 34-6 last weekend, have six wins and just one loss from their seven matches played this season and sit in second position on the competition table.
In the Jets favour though will be the fact that they return to their spiritual home of Henson Park for the first time this year after seven weeks on the road, with their parochial crowd sure to give the Newtown side a lift.
Again the Jets will field a large contingent of Sharks contracted players, with Lee and centre Jordan Drew finding some form of late in the backline, Tony Williams continues to prove a handful in the forwards, while Panthers game try-scoring hero Walker is improving every week in his first season in senior rugby league in the ISP competition.
Hard-working front rower Kurt Dillon also returns after two weeks sidelined with injury.
And in an interesting inclusion for their opponents Wyong, who are the ISP partners of the Sydney Roosters, livewire utility Connor Watson has been selected at fullback.
The Newtown v Wyong match is scheduled to get underway at 3.00pm at Henson Park on Saturday.
ISP Team List – Round 8
Jets v Roos
Sunday, April 16
Henson Park
Kick-off – 3.00pm
1 Leigh Higgins
2 Edrick Lee
3 Jordan Drew
4 Matt Evans
5 James Tuitahi
6 Penani Manumalaelii
7 Fa'amanu Brown
8 Jaimin Jolliffe
9 Kurt Kara
10 Sam Tagataese
11 Tony Williams
12 Jayden Walker
13 Jack Williams
Interchange
14 Kurt Dillon
15 Jayden McDonogh
16 Tepatasi Fuiava
18 Manaia Cherrington
23 Saulala Houma
ISP Round 7 Highlights – CLICK HERE (Jets highlights 6mins 10secs in video)
