Newtown Jets begin their premiership defence in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup tomorrow (Saturday 8 March) with nine members, who lifted the trophy in September 2024, returning to face the Panthers at Penrith’s Parker Street Reserve.
Six matches will kick-off Round One for NSWRL’s elite men’s competition entering its 118th season. Parramatta Eels have the bye to complete the 13 clubs vying for NSW Cup glory in 2025.
Head of the list are the defending premiers, the Jets, who survived a tense Grand Final against Minor Premiers North Sydney Bears (28-22) at CommBank Stadium seven months ago.
One of the Jets’ survivors is NSW Cup Hooker of the Year Jayden Berrell, who relishes the chance to link with his teammates again.
“Most of the core group is still there with a couple of new additions,” Berrell said. “We’ve worked hard to get ready for this weekend.
“Like every other team, going to back-to-back is obviously the end-goal and the motivation we’ll carry with us through all 26 rounds.
“The standard we’ve set over the last few years in how we want the Jets to play – that will be the driving force again.”
Although some players have moved on to other clubs, the Jets have secured former Canberra Raiders NSW Cup captain Hohepa Puru, who not only joins twin brother Niwhai Puru at the Jets but was named Lock of the Year in the 2025 NSW Cup Team of the Year.
“It’s great having those two together as ‘Neets’ (Niwhai) had a really good breakout year for us last year at halfback,” Berrell said. “I think he’ll be looking to push for a NRL debut.
“His brother ‘Hep’ (Hohepa) coming in will help with that because he’s classy as well. He’s a great addition to add some more strike to our attack.”
The Jets, who are the NSW feeder team for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, last won the NSW Cup in 2019 with 15 members of the 17 who played that day moving into NRL careers.
Eight are current Sharks players: Will Kennedy, Siona Katoa, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Blayke Brailey, Braydon Trindall, Toby Rudolf, Teig Wilton, and Siosifa Talakai.
That strike rate shows how crucial The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup is in providing a platform to reach their NRL dream. Last year 60 New Cup players across the 13 clubs made their NRL debuts.
Berrell was among the 60 and believes the Jets will produce more as they become the hunted in 2025.
“Since I’ve been here over the past three years we’ve been in and around the finals,” he said.
“We have always been one of the teams other clubs come after so that won’t be changing this season now that we’re defending the title.”
All NSW Cup games will be live streamed in 2025 on NSWRL TV in conjunction with BarTV Sports, as well all Jersey Flegg Cup matches.
Go to https://www.bartvsports.com.au/nswrltv/ for further information and how to subscribe.
Click here for Round One of The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup
