The Newtown Jets lost their opening round Knock-On Effect NSW Cup competition match on Friday night, going down 28-24 to the New Zealand Warriors in a game where the lead changed on several occasions.
The Warriors led 14-6 at half-time in this match at the Go Media Stadium, Auckland, and extended this lead to 20-6 early in the second half.
For much of the second half, Newtown took control of the midfield and made ground through the forwards, with the Jets scoring three converted tries within an eleven-minute time period. The Jets regained the lead by 24-20, after having led 6-0 early in the first half.
Match: Warriors v Jets
Round 1 -
home Team
Warriors
5th Position
away Team
Jets
10th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Some clever backline play by the Warriors saw the Wahs score two unconverted tries in the last four minutes of the game, with the final score being 28-24 in the Warriors' favour.
Backrower Blake Hosking had opened the scoring for the Jets in the fourth minute, with Mawene Hiroti's conversion extending the lead to 6-0.
The Warriors showed their potent backline attacking skills with two converted tries midway through the first half, which along with a penalty goal gave the home team a 14-6 lead at half-time.
A somewhat controversial try early in the second half (which was also converted) put the Warriors into what was starting to look like a probable match-winning lead of 20-6.
Newtown's most productive period of the game came in the second half, with territorial dominance and sustained pressure at the Warriors end of the field.
Sam Healey, one of last year's most improved players, showed speed and determination in scoring two tries (both from close range), while backrower Billy Burns (on debut for Newtown) showed strength and willpower in wrestling his way through several Warriors defenders to score his try.
Newtown had forged a 24-20 lead with just on ten minutes left to play, but two cleverly executed tries enabled the Warriors to reclaim the lead and seize the two competition points, with their last try being scored in the 78th minute.
Jets coach George Ndaira found it hard to conceal his disappointment at losing this away match in the second-last minute of play, after the team had fought back so well in the second half. The Warriors had laid on some crisp passing skills that enabled them to breach Newtown's backline defence twice in the last four minutes.
George Ndaira's post-match assessment was that front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha had given a really strong forward's performance, reflecting the confidence shown to him by the Cronulla Sharks administration who had extended his contract in the off-season. Mr Ndaira also acknowledged the strong performances of both Sam Healey and Blake Hosking.
It needs to be remembered that Friday's match had been this particular team's first game together this season, as well as having had limited time together in training sessions. On paper this was a very strong team line-up, with a lot of NSW Cup competition match experience in the eighteen players named to play the Warriors.
Newtown's next match is against Canterbury-Bankstown at PointsBet Stadium, Woolooware on Friday, 15th March at 3.40pm.
