Newtown Jets.html



Newtown

Club Information
Full name	Newtown Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)	Bluebags
Short name	Newtown
Founded	1908 as Newtown
Departed	1983
Former Details
Ground(s)	Henson Park Marrickville, Sydney (30,0001)
Competition	NSWRFL
Team colours
Records
Premierships	3 (1910, 1933, 1943)
Runners-up	7 (1913, 1914, 1929, 1944, 1954, 1955, 1981)
Minor premiership	6 (1910, 1933, 1943, 1944, 1954, 1955)

The Newtown Jets (formerly the Newtown "Bluebags") are a former first grade rugby league club who departed the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership in 1983. The Jets now compete in the second-tier NSWRL Premier League competition. The Jets are based at Henson Park in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville and have team colours of royal blue and white.

History

The club was founded on 14th January, 1908 at a public meeting held at Newtown Town Hall, making it the second rugby league football club in Australia and the oldest now in existence. The first club, Glebe, was formed on 9 January, 1908. When the 'Dirty Reds' (Glebe) were controversially excluded from the NSWRL Premiership in 1929, Newtown became the oldest Australian club.

There is some argument however over whether or not Newtown was actually the first Rugby league club in Australia, formed on 8 January 1908 (one day earlier than Glebe). The club's website stands by this claim however other sources, most notably Terry Williams' book "Out of the Blue (The History of Newtown RLFC)", refute this claim. Rugby league historian Sean Fagan similarly holds that the date of 14 January 1908 is the correct foundation day.

Newtown played in the NSWRL competition from 1908-1983. A Newtown winger, Jack Scott, was the first to score a try in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership. Known as the "Newtown Bluebags" for most of its lifetime, the club adopted the Jets nickname in 1973, perhaps referring to Newtown's catchment area extending to Sydney Airport. The club won premierships in 1910, 1933 and 1943, finishing second in 1913, 1914, 1929, 1944, 1954-55 and 1981. The 1981 team, which played in the club's final NSWRL premiership grand final, included the legends of game Tommy Raudonikis and Phil Gould. It was coached by Warren Ryan.

The 1973 Wills Cup Final win

Jack Gibson took over as Newtown coach in 1973. Gibson picked his team solely on form, irrespective of seniority. The great Brian Moore had been relegated to the reserves bench throughout the preliminary rounds of the tournament, and youngsters like Ian Satori, Dennis Gardiner, Peter Parry and Warren Snodgrass were all given a chance in the top grade. The Newtown side for the final was:

B. Cox, M. Cohen, D. Oliveri, J. Bonham, J. Bradstock, K. Wilson, D. O'Connor (c), N. Pringle, G. Sullivan, P. Parry, T. Melville, M. Robertson and D. Gardiner.

The St. George line up was:

G. Langlands, G. Carr, E. Goodwin, R. Clapham, J. Clapham, A. Branson, M. Shulman, L. Drake, P. Fitzgerald, R. Reddy, I. Toga, C. Rasmussen, M. Welborn and H. Eden.

The match was played under floodlights at the old Sydney Sports Ground on St Patricks day before a crowd of 13,180. At half time St George were up 15-2 and looked certain to win. In the second half the Newtown forward pack gave the Saints a taste of their own medicine which helped gain tries for Melville and Robertson, both converted by Ken Wilson which reduced the St George lead to 15-12. Brian Moore, brought on at half time, scored the final try, converted by Ken Wilson which sealed victory for Newtown in the last minute, making the game one of the most exciting comeback wins in Rugby League history.

Ejection from the Premiership

Financial pressures forced the team out of the NSWRL Premiership at the end of 1983. The club continued to seek readmission, pursuing various different alternatives, including moving to Orana Park in south/west Sydney but in the end these plans fell through. This left the "Jets" out of the premier Australian Rugby league competitions.

In 2008, the centenary year of rugby league in Australia, the Newtown Jets club named an 18-man team of the century:

• Gordon Clifford
• Phil Sigsworth
• Lionel Williamson
• Charles Russell
• Dick Poole
• Len Smith
• Brian Moore
• Bill Farnsworth
• Tony Brown
• Keith Froome
• Frank Farrell ©
• Paddy McCue
• Paul Quinn
• Arthur Folwell
• Herb Narvo
• Graham Wilson
• Felix Ryan & Noel Mulligan
  

Coach: Warren Ryan

Newtown District Junior Rugby League

The Newtown District Junior Rugby League (NDJRL) competition ended in 1990 after the ejection of the club from the NSWRL premiership in 1983. The NDJRL was absorbed mainly into the South Sydney District Junior Rugby League and also a small part into the St George and Canterbury-Bankstown districts.

Existing junior clubs that were formerly part of the Newtown district include;

• Camperdown Dragons (now in South Sydney)
• Marrickville RSL (now in South Sydney)
• Earlwood Saints (now in St George)
• Christian Brothers Lewisham (now only compete in school competitions)

Some extinct Newtown junior clubs include;

• St Peters
• Newtown Hawks
• Tempe Iona Warriors
• Addison Royals (Addison Road Sports Club)
• Hurlstone Park Colts
• De La Salle Petersham
• Redfern Kooris

Some notable Newtown juniors include;

• Johnny Raper (Camperdown Dragons)
• Phil Sigsworth (Newtown Hawks)
• Mark & Geoff Bugden (Marrickville)
• Paul Osborne (Christian Bros Lewisham)
• Col Murphy (Newtown Hawks)
• Frank "Bumper" Farrell
• Frank Hyde
• Brian "Poppa" Clay

Metropolitan Cup

The club re-emerged in 1990 to play in the third-tier NSW competition, the Metropolitan Cup, winning the title 4 times (1992, 1995, 1996 & 1997). The club no longer enters a team in the NSWRL Jim Beam Cup due to it announcing in the off-season after the 2006 season of the NSWRL Jim Beam Cup that it would now only concentrate on the Premier League Side.

NSWRL NSW Cup

In 2000, Newtown entered a team in the NSWRL Premier League, the second-tier NSW competition to the NRL. While a stand-alone club for many purposes, they have acted as a feeder for NRL teams such as Auckland and, currently, Sydney Roosters.

They are still very popular for a second division squad with the attendances at Henson Park being the highest in the NSWRL Premier League. Their attendance is always announced as being 8972 - this is said in jest over the tannoy and is a tribute to their final premiership attendance in 1983. Henson Park is widely known as offering the spectator a more traditional Rugby League experience with unique aspects such as a sausage sizzle on the ground's hill, canned beer and drive-in viewing of the game.

In 2006, Newtown lost to the Parramatta Eels 20-19 in extra time in the Premier League Grand Final due to a field goal from Eels halfback Marcus Perenara after three minutes of golden point extra time. 2006 was also Newtown's most successful Season in the NSWRL Premier League to date.

In 2007, Jets history was created when they did not wear the royal blue jersey during a match with the Auckland Lions. Neither side had a clash jersey, and as the Jets were the visiting side they were forced to wear Sydney Roosters away jerseys. For 100 years prior to that game, the Jets had never failed to wear their royal blue jerseys. The Club had a less fortunate season compared to 2006, failing to make the Finals or even make the Top 10.²

In 2008, Newtown again made the Grand Final of the newly formed NSW Cup. In an extraordinary game against the Wentworthville Magpies, the Jets scored first and led 8-4 at half time. At full time scores were locked at 8-8, again forcing the game into extra time, an ironic repeat of the 2006 decider. Finally after 24 minutes of extra time and dozens of attempts at field goals from both teams, Captain Sean Rudder erred in kicking out on the full. This gave the Magpies good field position and allowed them to score the winning try in the corner. After the longest ever grand final match, Wentworthville won 12-8.

Film

On 20 August 2007, a film depicting the club, The Final Winter starring Matt Nable was released in cinemas across Australia.

Honours and records

Team

• Premierships (3): 1910, 1933, 1943.
• Runners-up (7): 1913, 1914, 1929, 1944, 1954 1955, 1981.
• President's Cup (5): 1919, 1921, 1928, 1944, 1950.
• Club Championship: 1973.
• Preseason Competition: 1973.
• City Cup: 1937, 1942.
• State Championship: 1941, 1945.
• Biggest wins:
  • 51-0 v Illawarra at Henson Park, 2 May 1982
  • 55-7 v St George at SCG, 26 Aug 1944
  • 48-3 v University at Henson Park, 12 May 1937
  • 52-7 v St George at SCG, 3 Jun 1944
  • 50-6 v Manly at SCG, 13 Jun 1955.
• Biggest defeats:
  • 65-9 v St George at Kogarah Oval, 30 Jul 1961
  • 57-6 v Manly at Henson Park, 16 May 1976
  • 54-4 v Parramatta at Belmore Oval, 5 Jun 1983
  • 50-2 v Manly at Brookvale Oval, 14 Aug 1977
  • 54-10 v St George at Kogarah Oval, 24 Jul 1960
  • 44-0 v Cronulla at Endeavour Field, 23 Jul 1978
  • 62-18 v Parramatta at Henson Park, 20 Aug 1978.

Individual

• Rothmans Medal winners: Geoff Bugden (1980).
• NSW Player of the Year: Len Smith (1948).
• Coach of the Year: Jack Gibson (1973), Warren Ryan (1981).
• Test Captains, Australia: Albert Johnston (1919-20), Len Smith (1948), Keith Froome (1949).
• World Cup Captains, Australia: Dick Poole (1957).
• Internationals, Australia (34): Jack Barnett, Tony Brown, Frank Cheadle, Gordon Clifford, Tedda Courtney, Bill Fransworth, Viv Fransworth, Frank Farrell, Arthur Folwell, Keith Froome, Col Geelan, Henry Holloway, Jack Holmes, Frank Johnson, Albert Johnston, Paddy McCue, Brian Moore, Noel Mulligan, Joe Murray, Herb Narvo, William Neill, Bill Noble, Dick Poole, Paul Quinn, Tom Raudonikis, Charlie Russell, Felix Ryan, Phil Sigsworth, Len Smith, Gary Sullivan, Dick Townsend, Jack Troy, Lionel Williamson, Graham Wilson.

Match records:

• Most tries: 6 - Jack Troy v Easts, 8 Jul 1950.
• Most goals: 11 - Tom Kirk
  • v St George, 3 Jun 1944
  • v St George, 26 Aug 1944.
• Most points: 25 - Tom Kirk (1T, 11G) v St George, 26 Aug 1944.

Season records:

• Most tries: 34-Ray Preston, 1954.
• Most points: 197-Ken Wilson (5T,90G,2FG), 1980.

Career records:

• Most tries: 109 - Ray Preston.
• Most points: 1,001 - Ken Wilson (25T, 447G, 28FG).
• Most appearances: 204 - Frank Farrell.

Coaching register:

• Arthur Halloway (1923)
• Albert 'Ricketty' Johnston (1923), (1925-25)
• Bill Farnsworth (1924)
• Charles 'Boxer' Russell* (1933), (1934-39)
• Frank Burge (1940)
• Percy Williams (1941)
• Arthur Folwell* (1942-44)
• Frank Farrell (1946-51)
• Frank Johnston (1952-53),
• Col Geelan (1954)
• Dick Poole (1955-58), (1966-68)
• Charles 'Chicka' Cahill (1959-61)
• Allan Ellis (1962-65)
• Harry Bath (1969-71)
• Jack Gibson (1973)
• Clarrie Jeffreys (1974-76)
• Paul Broughton (1977-78)
• Johnny Raper (1978)
• Warren Ryan (1979-82)
• Brian Moore (1983)

See also

• Category:Newtown Jets rugby league players

Footnotes

External links

• Newtown Jets Homepage
• Newtown Jets at rl1908.com
• Newtown stats at rleague.com
• Newtown Jets Rugby League Team of Century 2008 at rugbyleaguedigest.com.au