NRL TEAMS - 2024 Round 3
6 hours ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Sydney Airport Jets halfback and captain Craig Field gave a bravura performance at Henson Park on Saturday afternoon, even though the Parramatta Eels eventually won this NSW Premier League match by 46-38.
Former Newtown secretary Frank Farrington claimed he had rarely seen a finer display by a Newtown number seven in his lifetime of following Australia's oldest Rugby League club.
The Jets went into this match against second-placed Parramatta with an injury-weakened lineup, a situation worsened by the loss of ace second rower Billy Najarrin with torn leg muscles early in the first half.
Newtown rocked the Eels by grabbing a 16-0 lead after eighteen minutes, as Field mesmerised the visitors with clever switches of play and pin-point kicking.
A try to the Eels right on half-time, followed by a blue and gold scoring blitzkrieg early in the second half, pointed towards a probable rout, but the Jets rallied and fought their way back to 28-all with less than twenty minutes remaining.
Parramatta then locked the result up with a burst of three converted tries in the space of eight minutes, but had to withstand an absorbing Newtown fightback, inevitably inspired by the ever-scheming Craig Field.
This man really put on a class act, as crafty five-eighth Troy Barnes capitalised on the opportunities, helping himself to a personal haul of four tries in the process.
The Jets simply did not have a sufficient complement of quality players to counter Parramatta's strike power, as the Eels exploited Newtown's flakier defensive weaknesses. The Field and Barnes scrumbase combination was an inspiring display of applied skills, commitment and professional execution.
Tabua Cakacaka, Aaron Trinder and Ben Tickle were Newtown's best forwards, with the big Fijian front-rower proving to be a wonderful acquisition through his wholehearted efforts every weekend.
Campbell McNiven and Luke Sant worked hard in defence. Centre John Sinisa continues to impress, especially for a player so new to the Rugby League game. Fullback Andrew Le Breton again showed real courage in fielding high kicks and committing himself in tackles. Winger Alf Duncan added two more to his impressive haul of tries in 2003. In the Jim Beam Cup competition on Saturday evening, Newtown took on Guildford at a thoroughly cheerless McCredie Park. The Jets led 20-18 midway through the second half, but like their Premier League counterparts, did not have enough high calibre players right across the park, as the Owls finished the stronger to win by 36-26.
This Saturday sees another Newtown club reunion being staged at Henson Park, with the Sydney Airport Jets at home to the Bulldogs in Premier League at 3pm, preceded by the Jim Beam Cup match against Wentworthville at 1pm.