Penrith punish rusty Roosters
4 hours ago | Aidan Edgecomb
The Sydney Airport Jets will soon be back in training for the 2004 season, and are ready to rebuild their playing strength following a relatively successful year in 2003. Newtown is the oldest club in Australian Rugby League, and fields teams in the high standard NSWRL Premier League and Jim Beam Cup competitions. The Jets take great pride in their impressive player-developmental role, with ten players from their 2003 roster taking up lucrative offers with NRL and overseas clubs. This movement in players presents opportunities for other youngsters to enhance their reputations by playing with the famous and professionally-run Newtown club. Craig Field, still one of the best halfbacks in Rugby League and the joint winner of the Newtown club's 2003 players' player award, will be playing again with the Jets in 2004. Craig proved to be an inspirational mentor with his youthful team-mates last season, and will be a great drawcard for other youngsters to join the Jets and to take their careers forward. The Jets have recently signed boom New Zealand Bartercard Cup centre Sioeli Helu, who weighs in at 105 kgs. and runs the 100 metres in 11 seconds. No doubt many other talented young Kiwis have noted the example of David Fa'alogo, who signed with the Jets in 2003 from the Bartercard Cup ranks, and within a month had won an NRL contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Newtown coach Colin Murphy, popularly known as "The Kevin Sheedy of Rugby League", will once again have charge of the Jets' Premier League squad, while former Sharks and Raiders halfback Trevor Schodel will be the Jim Beam Cup coach. The Sydney Airport Jets begin official training on Tuesday, 11 November, and all inquiries should be directed to 1300 36 36 90.