NSW Cup final live scores, blog: Newtown Jets vs Canterbury Bulldogs

The 2018 NSW Cup reaches its peak this afternoon as the Newtown Jets and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs battle it out for premiership glory at Leichhardt Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:10pm AEST.

These two sides have experienced remarkably similar seasons. In the regular season, the Jets and Bulldogs were separated by points differential only, with both clubs finishing on 30 points, in third and fourth spot respectively. Both clubs lost in the first week of the finals and had to battle their way back.

In the preliminary finals, Newtown edged the minor premier Panthers in a 28-24 classic, which literally came down to the last tackle of the match. The Jets held on after numerous lead changes throughout the match.

In the other prelim, Canterbury-Bankstown led the Dragons by 14 points, with 10 minutes left on the clock, and withstood a late comeback, and some nervous moments, to win 28-26.

Both sides boast some NRL experience, with Newtown affiliated with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. The Jets will be led around the park by Kyle Flanagan, who is destined for big things at the Sharks.

He and Jack Williams have been instrumental for the Jets, creating plenty of chances for the Newtown backline, with their back 3 of Will Kennedy, Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga and Sione Katoa very dangerous in attack. Alongside Flanagan, there are 4 other Jets with NRL experience this year.

The Bulldogs have the same, if not a little more, NRL experience as the Jets. This is perhaps best headlined by Rhyse Martin in the second row.

Martin was a shining light for the Bulldogs in the NRL in the second half of the year with his general play and goal-kicking more than worthy of an NRL spot.

He will be one of a number of players in this team making the jump to higher honours in 2019.

The Bulldogs will be looking to lay the platform through their pack, with Martin, Greg Eastwood and Ofahiki Ogden all eligible to play.

Their front row of Renouf To’omaga and Francis Tualau was strong all year. They will miss Matt Frawley, injured in last week’s encounter, with Fa’amanu Brown starting in the halves.

Prediction
As you would expect for two sides locked on the same amount of points at the end of the season, and then sharing the same path into the grand final, this is a toss of the coin.

The key for the Jets will be at least sharing the honours with the Bulldogs pack. If they can, the Newtown backline should score enough points to win. I’m tipping this is the way that it will play out.

Newtown by 6

When: 3:10pm AEDT
Where: Leichhardt Oval
TV: Channel 9
Online: NRL Live
Betting: Newtown: $2.35, Canterbury Bankstown $1.60

Newtown Jets
1 William Kennedy, 2 Bessie Aufaga-Toomaga, 3 Aaron Gray, 4 Reubenn Rennie, 5 Sione Katoa, 6 Jack Williams, 7 Kyle Flanagan, 8 Kurt Dillon, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Avagalu Seumanufagai, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Anthony Moraitis, 13 Jaimin Jolliffe.

Interchange: 14 Billy Magoulias, 15 Matthew Evans, 16 Braden Uele, 17 Wesley Lolo.

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
1 Mason Cerruto, 2 Joshua Bergamin, 3 Morgan Harper, 4 John Olive, 5 Jayden Okunbor, 6 Joshua Cleeland, 7 Fa’amanu Brown, 8 Renouf To’omaga, 9 Zachary Woolford, 10 Francis Tualau, 11 Ofahiki Ogden, 12 Rhyse Martin, 13 Greg Eastwood.

Interchange: 14 Bronson Garlick, 15 Lachlan Burr, 16 Jack Nelson, 17 Christopher Smith.