Newtown skipper Billy Burns says he and his teammates are well aware of what the Jets club means to so many Rugby League fans across Sydney.
Being a foundation club (1908) like their opponents in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Grand Final tomorrow, North Sydney Bears, there’s 117 years of history to try to absorb.
But Burns (pictured above, Photo: Bryden Sharp) says all the players have been willing to hear the Jets story as head coach George Ndaira has made it a mission throughout the year to highlight the culture and heritage.
“George has done a good job with that this year. He’s given us a few history lessons about the jersey and what it means to put it on,” Burns told nswrl.com.au. Ndaira was not in charge the last time the Jets won in 2019.
“That gives us boys so much more respect about pulling the Newtown jersey on. We don’t own the jersey, we’re just borrowing it for the future and we embrace that.
“We recognise the men who’d worn it before us and won in it. The Jets history and name just adds to the jersey and the respect we have for it and the game,” Burns said.
“We love having all the old boys and the fans at our games. It’s always good when we win having a few beers with the fans and former players – seeing the smiles on their faces from our hard work is special.”
And it will take a mountain of hard work to overcome the Bears, who are also steeped in tradition around the famous red-and-black jumper. There are seven NRL players in both sides named last Tuesday.
The Jets have survived three matches on successive finals weekends to get to CommBank Stadium. The Bears are more rested – a week off at the start, courtesy of being Minor Premiers, and then another week off at the end after winning the Major-semi final, coincidently over the Jets (18-16).
Burns says the players are not jaded after a hard month of football. But they are also mindful not to let the idea of winning a grand final get into their heads too early.
“We don’t want to play the occasion – we want to play the game,” he said.
“The occasion certainly inspires us, but we need to concentrate on sticking to that game plan for 80 minutes and not wavering.
“So we won’t get too flustered by the moment, by the week. We embrace it but at the end of the day we’ve got to play a game of footy and win it.”
