The Newtown Jets will be aiming to continue their unbeaten start to the 2022 season when the host the Wests Magpies at Henson Park on Saturday.
The Jets snuck home by 18-16 against the Newcastle Knights last weekend, following on from three previous victories to sit on top of the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup ladder as one of only two teams yet to suffer a loss this season.
The Newtown team could be forced to tackle the Magpies minus a handful of the Sharks players to have bolstered their ranks in recent weeks due the Cronulla side having a Sunday game and needing to hold back extra players in line with NRL Covid protocols.
Clubs are required to have 20 players on site at an NRL game in case of late Covid withdrawals, meaning up to three players who may have suited up for the Jets will need to sit out the NSW Cup match and remain on stand-by on Sunday.
In another blow to the Jets, halfback Luke Metcalf will miss a couple of matches as a result of a sternum injury suffered in the game last weekend, with centre Jensen Taumoepeau also unavailable with a shoulder issue.
Irrespective of the team they eventually trot out the Jets will be riding high and confident of a strong showing against a Western Suburbs team which has yet to record a win in their four matches so far this year.
Youngster Kade Dykes has been named to make his NSW Cup debut at fullback for the Jets after playing strongly over the past few weeks for the Sharks Jersey Flegg side.
The match is scheduled for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday, however unfortunately the annual Beer, Footy and Food Festival, which was set to coincide with the game this weekend, has been postponed due to the predicted weather.
See the Newtown team list below.
Knock-On Effect NSW Cup – Team List
Jets v Magpies
Saturday, April 9
Henson Park
Kick-off – 3.00pm
1 Kade Dykes
2 Jonaiah Lualua
3 Addison Demetriou
4 Kayal Iro
5 Tyla Tamou
6 Lachlan Miller
7 Rhys Davies
8 Thomas Hazelton
9 Zac Woolford
10 Kurt Dillon
11 Charbel Tasipale
12 Reubenn Rennie
13 Tyler Slade
Interchange
14 Jonah Ngaronoa
17 Franklin Pele
19 Ethan Natoli
21 Vincent Rennie
22 Dylan O'Connor
23 Caleb Uele
Photos courtesy - Mario Facchini, mafphotography
