Warriors-bound hooker Sam Healey tasted New South Wales Cup grand final glory with Cronulla Sutherland feeder club Newtown in a 28-22 thriller against the North Sydney Bears yesterday.
The 21-year-old, signed on a three-year deal with the Warriors, came off the interchange to play 47 minutes as the Jets won the premiership for the ninth time, five years after their last success in 2019.
Aiming to break into the NRL when he moves to Auckland, Healey experienced the ultimate in a see-sawing grand final with the two sides locked up four times before Newtown stretched to a 28-22 lead and held on.
In his shift the son of Sharks legend Mitch Healey had four dummy half runs for 31 metres, made 23 tackles and had no errors.
Among others in the Newtown lineup were Cronulla Sutherland first graders Braden Hamlin-Uele, Billy Burns, Sam Stonestreet and Mawene Hiroti.
The North Sydney side included Melbourne NRL players Sualauvi Faalogo, Dean Ieremia, Bronson Garlick, Tepai Moeroa and Joe Chan along with former Warriors first grader Nathaniel Roache plus centre Israel Ogden and interchange forward Phillip Makatoa who came through the Warriors’ system a few years ago (Makatoa playing NSW Cup for the Warriors in 2019).
The opening 15 minutes of the contest was a typical grind giving an indicator this would be a close match. The scoreboard was locked at 6-6 and 10-10 during the first half – twice again in the second (16-16, 22-22).
But after the Jets were denied twice by the video referee – winger Stonestreet was held up and fullback Liam Ison penalised for a double movement – momentum seemed to swing towards the Henson Park team.
In the final minute of the half, Hiroti busted through two tacklers and dragged a third with him for a fine individual effort. Niwhai Puru’s conversion had the Jets six points ahead at the break.
The Jets’ other two tries came from winger Tom Rodwell and right centre Chris Vea’ila.
Bears hooker Garlick collected a Matt Stimson offload for North Sydney’s first points in the 20th minute, and then Faalogo showed why he’s scored eight tries in 14 games for Storm this year. Using that Melbourne connection he ran off his back-rower Joe Chan and despite taking a heavy tackle right on the line, he was able to force his way over.
Three minutes into the second half and the scores were locked up for a third time (16-16) after Bears winger Allan Fitzgibbon zipped down the left touchline to score his 21st try of 2024. Kieran Hayman converted from the sideline with Jets supporters ringing in his ears, but he held his cool.
The tit-for-tat nature continued with Billy Magoulias passing short to put Jordin Leiu over near the uprights for the Jets. But the six-point lead (22-16) didn’t last long as six minutes later the Bears replied through try halfback Harradyn Wilson stepping and straightening (22-22).
Hamlin-Uele’s try sealed the win despite the Bears frantic play on the Jets’ line in the final two minutes.
