The Wentworthville Magpies clash with the Newtown Jets in the Canterbury Cup Grand Final at Bankwest Stadium on Sunday 29 September.
Ahead of the clash, we take a look at five key talking points ahead of the clash.
Road to the Finals
The Jets finished the season in seventh position but have steadily built momentum throughout their finals campaign. They had to come from behind to beat Mounties in Week One, rallied again to beat the North Sydney Bears in Week Two and held on against a fast-finishing Minor Premier St George Illawarra Dragons in Week Three.
The have won their past six games, not suffering defeat since Round 20.
The Magpies have also won their last six games, not suffering a defeat since Round 21.
After sneaking into the finals due to points differential, and a victory over the Rabbitohs in the final round of the regular season, the Magpies have come away with dominant victories in the Finals series.
They scored a comprehensive win over Penrith Panthers in Week One, sealed a win over Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs with a late try in Week Two and blew the Rabbitohs off the park in Week Three.
The Canterbury Cup NSW Grand Final guarantees a fairy tale finish for one club after both sides fought their way through to the decider from the bottom half of the table.
Strong line ups
The Jets are chasing their first premiership since 2012 and will also be hoping to atone for last year’s Grand Final heartbreaking 18-12 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
They boast starpower across the park with hooker Blayke Brailey, fullback William Kennedy, winger Sione Katoa, centre Ronaldo Mulitalo, and forwards Scott Sorensen, Jayson Bukuya, Billy Magoulias and Greg Eastwood all having played NRL.
The Magpies have been led by former Parramatta Eels captain Tim Mannah who has plenty of support in the engine room from other forwards with NRL experience including Matt McIlwrick, David Gower, Peni Terepo and Oregon Kaufusi.
The backline also includes plenty of NRL strike power with captain Josh Hoffman, centre Ethan Parry, winger George Jennings and five-eighth Jaeman Salmon having all played for the Eels this season.
In fact, 15 of the 17 Magpies players named for this clash have spent time with the Eels top squad this season.
History and Key Stats
The two teams have shared the spoils this season with the Jets scoring a 22-10 over the Magpies in June while the Magpies scored a thumping 42-10 win over the Jets in April.
The 2019 Grand Final will be the third grand final between the Wentworthville Magpies and Newtown Jets.
The Magpies played them in 2006, when it was a Parramatta reserve grade side, and won in extra time thanks to a field goal. They then played again in 2008, which was the first year of the Eels and Magpies joint venture, and they won in extra time with James Maloney captaining the side to victory.
After a 10 year association between the Eels and Magpies, this will be the final year of the venture with the Eels having their own reserve grade team back in 2020.
Rip Taylor
A unique opportunity exists for the Magpies to finish their joint venture with the Eels with a Premiership. In 2008, Rip Taylor coached the side to victory and he will look to repeat history in 2019.
Taylor has managed to take a team that missed the finals and used a massive 52 players throughout 2018 to the 2019 Canterbury Cup NSW Grand Final.
Taylor’s coaching record is simply remarkable. It’s no surprise he’s taken an eighth placed team to the big dance.
This is his 40th year of coaching. In those 40, he’s taken teams to 25 Grand Final for 12 premierships. He’ll be hoping to make that 13 this Sunday.
Bankwest Stadium
The Wentworthville Magpies will play their sixth game at Bankwest Stadium, holding a 3-2 record at the venue.
With nine players in the Magpies line up holding top grade experience, the Magpies will enter the clash at the ground with plenty of confidence in the conditions.
The Jets will play their first game at the ground this season.
