Game Summary
It was a perfect start for Newtown, with centre Michael Gabrael crossing for the opening try in just the fourth minute after the Jets shifted the ball wide and found numbers down the left edge. The Raiders' right edge defence, featuring some new combinations, was exposed early, and the Jets made them pay with clinical execution.
Five minutes later, Riley Jones powered over from close range after bouncing off multiple defenders to crash over the line for the Jets' second. The Raiders were staring down a scoreline of 10-nil with nowhere near enough of the football, as Jayden Berrell's quick play-the-balls kept the Raiders defence scrambling.
The Jets extended their lead to 16-nil when Berrell produced a perfectly weighted grubber kick that took a favourable bounce near the try-line, leaving Owen Patty unable to secure the ball. Berrell pounced and scored, giving the Jets a stranglehold on the contest that would prove difficult to shake.
The Raiders' best moment of the first half came courtesy of a stunning 40-20 from Patty, changing the field position battle and giving Canberra their first genuine attacking platform. However, the Raiders were unable to turn that momentum into points before the Jets extended their lead to 22-nil with a try from fullback Mawene Hiroti, making it a mountain to climb at half-time.
A spark of hope came in the final minute of the half when Ethan Alaia chased his own grubber kick with intent and touched down, giving the Raiders a 22-4 score line to take into the break.
he second half followed a similar pattern, with the Jets extending their lead to 28-4 before the Raiders began to claw their way back. Mark Tuialii scored in the corner and Matt Timoko soon followed to narrow the deficit further, before a Taj Ford line-break blew the Raiders' comeback momentum and pushed the lead back to 22-14.
Tries to Jordan Uta and Chevy Stewart in the dying stages added some respectability to the scoreline, but it was too little, too late for the home side. The Jets ran out 34-26 winners, with their six try scorers — Gabrael, Jones, Berrell, Hiroti, Faatili, and Taj Ford — proving too clinical for the Raiders' defence.
Talking Points
The battle of the nines lived up to expectations. Berrell was influential in the first half, with his quick play-the-balls and grubber kicks directly creating two tries, while Patty grew into the game after his stunning 40-20 and was excellent in the second half — the pair were the standout performers across both sides.
Chevy Stewart's return to fullback has shown promise. He was heavily involved throughout, attacked kicks with confidence and finished the game with a try and three conversions.
Key Moment
Berrell's grubber kick in the 26th minute that wrong-footed Patty and allowed him to collect his own kick and score the Jets' third try. At 16-nil, it took the wind out of a Raiders side still searching for their first win of 2026.
What's Next?
The Jets will look to consolidate their position in the NSW Cup standings when they return to action next week, while the Raiders — now sitting at 0-4 — face mounting pressure to find their first win of the season in Round Five.
