It was first against second last Saturday and while the Newtown Jets were competitive throughout, it was the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers who prevailed in claiming a 26-12 win.
The Jets gave up an 18-0 lead during the first half and while they hung in from that point to bring some respectability to the score line, in the end it was a mountain too high to climb as they slipped to a second loss from eight matches in 2022.
And the assignment wont get any easier this week, with the Jets taking on a Bears side which has lost just one game so far this season.
The Bears are currently second on the KOE NSW Cup ladder, one place ahead of the Jets.
With the Sharks playing the Warriors on the same day and with the NRL protocols requiring players be kept on standby in case of Covid issues, the Jets team this week features less Cronulla-contracted players than they would otherwise include.
However in a huge bonus for the Jets, Sharks centre Connor Tracey has been named to make his long-awaited return from a troublesome groin issue.
The game is scheduled for a 3.00pm kick-off at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
See below the Jets team list.
KOE NSW Cup – Team List
Round 9
Jets v Bears
Sunday, May 8
North Sydney Oval
Kick-off – 3.00pm
1 Kade Dykes
2 Jonaiah Lualua
3 Connor Tracey
4 Mawene Hiroti
5 Matt Ikuvalu
6 Luke Metcalf
18 Tyla Tamou
8 Thomas Hazelton
9 Jayden Berrell
10 Jesse Colquhoun
11 Kayal Iro
12 Reubenn Rennie
13 Tyler Slade
Interchange
15 Addison Demetriou
17 Franklin Pele
19 Liam Harris
21 Vincent Rennie
23 Caleb Uele
