A miraculous play from Billy Magoulias and Will Kennedy has secured an incredible extra-time victory for Newtown in the Canterbury Cup grand final on Sunday.
Newtown, feeder club of Cronulla, scored a heart-stopping 20-15 win over Wentworthville at Bankwest Stadium to become the NSW Rugby League champions.
The match finished 14-all after regulation time which sent the game to 10 minutes of extra-time.
The Magpies took the lead with a Jaeman Salman field goal but the Jets refused to quit.
Sharks juniors Magoulias and Kennedy stepped up when it mattered to produce the clutch play with two minutes to go in extra-time to win the premiership for Newtown.
"I thought we were gone but we never gave up. Full credit to the boys," Kennedy said.
"It's an unreal feeling. We didn't start the season too well but it's a great finish."
It was an incredible finish to the season for the Jets who started the season with five straight losses. Newtown finished seventh on the Canterbury Cup table at the end of the regular season and needed to win three elimination finals in a row just to make the grand final.
It was redemption for Newtown who lost the decider last season. The Jets featured a number of Sharks contracted players in their squad including Ronaldo Mulitalo, Sione Katoa, Blayke Brailey, Jayson Bukuya, Magoulias, Kennedy, Aaron Gray and captain Scott Sorensen.
It was a nervous start from Newtown who made an error in the first hit up of the game to gift the Magpies the ball.
Wentworthville took the lead with a penalty goal before Newtown went close to the first try when Tyrone Phillips appeared to touch down in the corner. On-field officials awarded a try but the video referee bunker officials, only used in the competition's grand final, overturned the decision as Phillips failed to ground the ball before being bundled into touch in-goal.
But Newtown would not be denied shortly after thanks to the young Sharks combination of Mulitalo and Kennedy. The fullback showed great speed to get on the outside of his defender after a shift to the right before finding Mulitalo with an offload for the centre to score his eighth try in 12 games for the Jets.
The Magpies hit back midway through the first half when fullback Josh Hoffman barged over from close range. It was a disappointing defensive effort from Newtown, who had thrown a number of consecutive sets at Wentworthville on their line, only to concede a soft try as the Magpies made the most of their limited field position.
The Jets were back in front just past the half hour mark thanks to another Sharks combination.
This time young lock Magoulias surprised Wentworthville with a brilliant early grubber kick, with skipper Sorensen racing through to score.
But the Magpies hit almost straight back for the fourth lead change of the first half. George Jennings jumped out of dummy half with a strong run close to the line, making the most of more sloppy goal line defence from the Jets to give Wentworthville a 14-12 half-time lead.
The Jets suffered a massive blow just after the break, with Mulitalo failing a head injury assessment and being ruled out for the game.
It got worse when Phillips bombed a try after a brilliant run from Kennedy. The ball eventually went to the left, with Phillips knocking on close to the line.
Newtown then had a try disallowed on 50 minutes after Matt Evans appeared to produce a brilliant one on one strip and race down field, with Katoa scoring the try. But again the video referee intervened, overruling the on-field match officials after Jets prop Daniel Vasquez was shown to have also been involved in the tackle.
The Jets gave themselves another chance on the hour mark when Gray produced a one on one strip of his own. But Newtown were unable to make the most of the opportunity on Wentworthville's line.
Newtown finally dragged themselves level with five minutes remaining thanks to a Braydon Trindall penalty goal after Hoffman was harshly penalised for a shoulder charge on Kennedy.
All of a sudden, the Jets came soaring home.
Magoulias threw a beautiful inside pass for Kennedy to slice through Wentworthville. The fullback chipped over Hoffman but while the Magpies got back to clean up the loose ball, they were forced to concede a goal line drop out.
But Newtown did not take their opportunity, with Trindall's field goal attempt unsuccessful.
The game ended at 14-all, with extra-time required to determine the premiers.
Salmon edged Wentworthville in front with a field goal two minutes into extra-time. Newtown needed something special and they got it with two minutes remaining.
Magoulias danced across field before chipping a kick across for Phillips inside his own half. The winger fielded the ball on the full before finding Kennedy backing up on the inside to race away and secure the premiership for the Jets.
Newtown will now play Burleigh in the State Championship final before the NRL grand final at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
The Bears won the Queensland Cup after they downed Wynnum Manly 28-10.
Leader Scoreboard
Newtown Jets 20 (Ronaldo Mulitalo, Scott Sorensen, Will Kennedy tries. Braydon Trindall four goals)
defeated
Wentworthville 15 (Josh Hoffman, George Jennings tries. Rhys Davies three goals. Jaeman Salmon field goal)
after extra-time
at Bankwest Stadium, Parramatta
Crowd: 8,972
Leader man of the match: Will Kennedy (Jets)
