Jets 2011 - Ins & Outs

[LeagueInsider]

What has your Club been up to before the break?
NSWRL Media
14/12/2010 12:41:31 PM

NEWTOWN JETS

Coaching staff:

Head Coach: Greg Matterson (now in his fourth year)

Assistant coaches: Darryl Neville - backs (formerly with Souths, Illawarra, Fiji)

Sean Rutgerson - forwards (ex-Norths, Canberra, Salford, Jacksonville Axemen, South Africa World Cup rep)

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Brad Stocks

Trainers: John Zoller (ex-Roosters); Dan Wortley (ex-Harlequins)

Team manager: Sam Mavrovelis

Former assistant coach, Luke Ellis, is now the Football Manager at the Roosters

Former team manager , Mick Dabela, is having a sabbatical.

Train on squad:

Steve Naughton - Roosters full-time.
Luke Towers - playing with Limoux in the French RL Elite competition - likely to return to Newtown in June.
Tommy Symonds - full-time with the Roosters
Brad Barrett - training with Newtown
Aidan Guerra - full-time with the Roosters
Tinirau Arona - full-time with the Roosters
Ryan Verlinden - training with Newtown
Brad Takairangi - full-time with the Roosters
James Koloamatangi - training with Newtown
Mose Masoe - full-time with the Roosters
Johnathon Ford - full-time with the Roosters
Byron Ford - returning to Newtown in February
Khalid Deeb - training with Newtown
Ben Jones - full-time at the Roosters
Rhys Pritchard - ex-Wests - training full-time at the Roosters
Mark Kheirallah - ex-Roosters Toyota Cup - training full-time at the Roosters
Byron Fruean - ex-Knights - training full-time at the Roosters
Kurt Kara - ex-Wests - training full-time with the Roosters
Chris Afamasaga - ex-Goulburn Workers Bulldogs - training with Newtown
Chris Enahoro - ex-Tweed Heads Seagulls Q-Cup - training with Newtown
Brock Harmer - ex-Newcastle Wests - training with Newtown
Josh Kent - ex-Canterbury-Bankstown Toyota Cup - training with Newtown
Brett Lane - ex-Balmain - training with Newtown
Isaac Maliota - ex-Roosters Toyota Cup - training with both the Roosters and Newtown
Boyd Strickland - ex-Roosters Toyota Cup - training with Newtown

Released/Losses:

Jason Baitieri - full-time with the Catalans Dragons (Super League)
Sonny Tuigamala - released.
Tu'u Maori - full-time with the Melbourne Storm
Chris Tuatara-Morrison - released
Troy Savage - undecided as to whether he'll play again
Liam Foran - full-time with Manly-Warringah
Jason Wells – released
Ray Moujalli - training full-time with Manly-Warringah
Nick Kouparitsas - full-time with the Harlequins (Super League)
Keith Peters - released
Richard Kambo - released
Russell Aitken - retired
Nick Doig - released
James Aubusson - captain-coach of Goulburn Workers Bulldogs

Training Schedule:

Started on the 8th November 2010
Four sessions a week - two in the gym, one at Marrickville Oval and one at different beachside locations on early Saturday mornings.
Last session before Xmas: Tuesday, 21st December 2010.
Resuming on Tuesday, 4th January 2011.

First trial:

Versus South Sydney in the annual Return to Redfern Oval match on Saturday, 5th February 2011.

Players you expect to have a breakout year in 2011:

Tinirau Arona will play NRL in 2011. He was the stand-out man of the match in the Cook Islands' 26-22 win over NSW Country at Tamworth in mid-October and was also Newtown’s player of the year in 2010.

Kurt Kara (ex-Wests) is a very impressive trainer and looks set for a big season especially after catching the eye of Rooster Coach Brian Smith.

Brett Lane (ex-Balmain) will be a very good signing for Newtown in 2011. Has the ability to play several positions in the backline and will no doubt be a useful tool for Coach Greg Matterson.


Expert’s opinion:

The Jets looked to have recruited well for 2011 and Coach Greg Matterson will have to make some tough decisions when he selects his side for Round One of the NSW Cup in March. A pre-season injury to Roosters hooker Anthony Watts could provide an opportunity for one of Matterson’s men to pressure the newly signed Mark Riddell for a back up hooking role during the NRL season. Newtown will be keen to feature long into the finals once again but with the 30 year anniversary of their 1981 Grand Final appearance taking on special meaning, 2011 shapes to be one to remember for the proud Club.


Thoughts??? Byron Fruean and Rhys Pritchard are both VERY good pick ups and should adequately cover the loss of Maori and Tuatara-Morrison

 

[bluebag43]

LeagueInsider

Thank-you for that comprehensive summary of how things are shaping up next year!

 

[Deleted member 10972]

Is Kurt Kara really full-time with Roosters? I was unaware of this.

 

[LeagueInsider]

Don't think he is in their top 25 but looks like he will be suiting up for the Jets and training with Roosters like many players in the partnership

 

[Tighe]

Does anyone know anything about Mat Stubbs. Apparently he is training with the Bluebags.

He is a young fullback from Engadine who starred in the Jack Gibson Shield match (best of the Shire Comp vs best of Souths Comp) and was a stand out in finals matches I watched at Shark park this year.

I couldn't find him on the Sharks website so he must be too old for the Toyota Cup.

 

[bluebag43]

Yeah, he played for the Club I'm involved with, Engadine Dragons A Grade.

He is a top prospect, he came over from Bosco to us, I guess he must be just over 20 or Cronulla would have had in their Toyota Cup squad.

He comes highly recommended by two Newtown/Engadine former player/identities, Dale Newton who played A grade with him this year and Scott Fleming who was one of the trainers.

If Matt makes it, it will continue the long and successful relationship between Newtown and Engadine Dragons!

 

[mikail-eagle]

I thought Keith Peters had a decent season with you guys last year.

Any idea where he is heading to ?

 

[LeagueInsider]

I thought Keith Peters had a decent season with you guys last year.

Any idea where he is heading to ?

Last I heard he was exploring his options in the UK, but to be honest who isn't??

 

[wayne challis]

The Jets have also signed Francis Tuigamala from Cabramatta and Tim Winitana from the Bulldogs

 

[Roland]

Is that Francis Tuigmala from Bankstown City Bulls or Francis Vaoitu from Cabramatta?

 

[morley101]

The Jets have also signed Francis Tuigamala from Cabramatta and Tim Winitana from the Bulldogs

I thought Tim Winitana went to the Panthers.

 

[RedV65]

Also look out for a young second - rower that you purchased from Cronulla Toyota Cup. He is only 20 but has a big future. He has already represented Lebanon and played on Saturday against the rabbits. His name is Ahmad Ellaz.

 

[RL Tragic]

Heard a rumour that Cronulla have a lot of excess players from their NYC and NSW Cup that wont get to play each week due to numbers and utilising 6 Melbourne Storm players each week so that they were hoping to put in a joint team with Newtown so any excess from both clubs got a game of football in the Bundaberg Cup this year if it was not too late. Obviously they have not nominated a team but does anybody know if it is happening behind the scenes or is it just a rumour?