The Newtown Jets had a brilliant 2022 campaign to secure the The Knock-On NSW Cup Minor Premiership with 38 competition points, yet the blue baggers will be hungrier than ever next season after finishing one win shy of a Grand Final berth.
Under veteran mentor Greg Matterson in his final year as Newtown head coach in the NSW Cup, the Jets produced a high-tempo, enterprising play style that ultimately reaped the rewards with 16 wins, two draws and only four losses throughout the regular season.
Their success also shone a spotlight on many of the talented prospects in the Newtown side who each had a big impact this year – the likes of Lachlan Miller, third-generation star Kade Dykes, Jayden Berrell, Luke Metcalf, Franklin Pele and NSW Cup Player of the Year Kayal Iro.
Season highlight
The matchup between the Jets and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Round 24 may have ended in a draw, but plenty of late drama had the Henson Park crowd on the edge of their seat as Newtown required just one competition point to take home the Minor Premiership.
The Jets started exactly how they needed to, opening the scoring through centre Addison Demetriou in the 11th minute. But things quickly changed when Bulldogs front-rower Jayden Tanner found the line 10 minutes later, followed by centre Paul Alamoti before halftime.
Newtown came out firing after the break, bagging two quick tries via Kayne Kalache and Reubenn Rennie to get back in front 16-10. With less than 10 minutes remaining the Bulldogs had worked their back to a two-point lead, but after being a man down for the final stages the Jets had a penalty goal attempt after the full-time whistle to even the ledger.
Fullback Mawene Hiroti did the honours with his boot to seal top spot, the Minor Premiership shield and a ticket to the Major Semi-final.
Simply the best
It won’t come as a surprise that Cook Islands international Kayal Iro, the 2022 NSW Cup Player of the Year, was one of Newtown’s most consistent performers this season.
Whether filling in at fullback and second row or playing in his preferred centre position, Iro constantly proved hard to handle on the attack.
He led the competition for run metres (4,070) and post-contact metres (1,599) from 320 runs (first in competition), and was second in tackle busts (110) behind Jets teammate Miller.
By the numbers
While the Jets had a near-perfect regular season to earn outright first position on the competition ladder, the end of their 2022 campaign – which saw consecutive finals defeats – was uncharacteristic of their season-long form.
Newtown were the number one side at home – boasting a record of nine wins and two losses – and were the second-best attacking team (651 points), trailing eventual Grand Final winners the Penrith Panthers.
But after conceding 18 points on average from rounds one to 24, that number increased by 10 in the finals series - giving away 28 points in each of their finals games against the Panthers and Bulldogs. If Newtown have their time again in 2023, the Jets will certainly look to improve that area in what is already one of the NSW Cup’s top attacking outfits.
