Game Summary
The Newtown Jets have booked their spot in Week Two of the finals with a thrilling 24-18 elimination final win over the defending premiers, the New Zealand Warriors, at Jubilee Stadium, Kogarah, in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup.
The Jets, missing several players to NRL duties including Ryley Pollard and Toby Rudolf, struck first through Chris Vea'ila in the third minute, set up by a clever inside ball from Taj Ford. Kaylis Fatialofa hit back for the Warriors in the ninth minute, but the Jets took control from there, with Samuel Stonestreet finishing superbly in the corner in the thirteenth minute and Kristian Dixon crossing in the sixteenth off the back of more creative work from Ford.
Jaxon Lavender added a fourth try for the Jets in the twentieth minute, pouncing on a lucky bounce off a Ford grubber to push the margin out further and cap a dominant opening quarter for Newtown.
The Warriors continued to search for answers, with Kaylis Fatialofa grabbing his second in the thirty-second minute after more good work from Luke Hansen, and Jack Thompson crossing in the 33rd to cut the margin back to single figures and set up a grandstand finish.
Both Kristian Dixon and Samuel Stonestreet would each finish with two tries on the day, while Taj Ford was the difference-maker throughout, setting up three tries despite starting the year in and out of the Jets side.
With the Jets down to their bench hooker options and dealing with injuries to Jayden Berrell and Brandon Norris, the Warriors piled on the pressure in the dying minutes. However, a costly knock-on and a gutsy strip in the final set sealed the contest, sending Newtown through 24-18.
It ends the Warriors' title defence, capping a season that saw them lose five of their first nine matches before storming into finals contention with six straight wins and a draw. For the Jets, it is a first step towards a possible finals campaign that could be boosted by the return of suspended and rested stars in Week Two.
Talking Points
- Taj Ford was the difference-maker, setting up three tries and continually finding gaps for the Jets despite starting the year in and out of the side.
- The Jets' defence held out an extraordinary sequence of three consecutive drop-outs late in the first half, a passage of play that both commentators labelled crucial to the result.
- Kaylis Fatialofa and Luke Hansen combined superbly for the Warriors, providing their main avenue to attack throughout the match.
- Injuries to Jayden Berell and Brandon Norris tested the depth of both benches in the closing stages, with the Jets forced to shuffle their hooker rotation.
Key Moment
With four minutes to go and the Jets clinging to a six-point lead, the Warriors won back-to-back sets. A slow ruck on the last tackle forced Liam Ison into a rushed option, and moments later Rajab produced a match-saving strip in-goal to deny the Warriors a certain try, sealing the win for Newtown.
What's next?
The Newtown Jets progress to Week Two of the finals in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup, against the North Sydney Bears while the New Zealand Warriors' season comes to an end. The Jets will hope for the return of players released for NRL duty as they push towards a Grand Final birth.
