Newtown Jets - History

History

The club was founded on 14 January 1908 at a public meeting held at Newtown Town Hall that had been convened by the prominent Sydney sportsman James J. Giltinan (after whom the NSW Rugby League Premiership shield is named), local MP Henry Hoyle, and Harry Hammill (who was to be the fledgling club's first captain).

This made Newtown 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. They won the 1910 NSWRFL Premiership after drawing the final was enough to see them win due to being minor premiers. 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. Or perhaps due to the close proximity of the club's home ground, Henson Park, to the major east/west flight path for the airport. The club won premierships in 1910, 1933 and 1943, and finished 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.