The 1981 Newtown Jets Story

I am a diehard Wests Magpies supporter, but I have much love for the Bluebags (Tommy can be thanked for that). Just go to any current NSWRL homegame at Henson Park and you will see that Newtown and their fans are still very much an ongoing and awesome club.

Brilliant Mate, I grew up 500 metres from Henson Park in the 70's and 80's, great memories indeed. Still missing the Great Tommy R.

My Dad supported The Blue Bags in1940,s. I followed and loved the 1980,s Jets. Played with Shane McKellar in Goulburn.

Newtown 81 is such an underrated story in the NRL. Its there but hardly mentioned. A team that was utterly hopeless for a long time with NO FANS made the grand final after winning only 2 games two years prior. And the jets would have won it if the eels didnt have one brett kenny. I mean the whole day would have been massive, two teams fighting it out for a LONG overdue premiership. If this was 2021 it would have been deemed a MASSIVE fairytale and most of the NRL fans would have rooted for the jets, such would have been the ground swell support for a fairytale. But in 81 no one really gave a you know what. Parra won, the fans burnt the stadium and that was it. Time for season 1982. Then in 1983 the jets got kicked out and that was it, no groundswell support no nothing. We just woke up to find that the jets are no more..lets get on with it. Theres so many elements to this you could easily make a feature doco from it.

Grew up in Tempe and spent my primary school years going all over Sydney to support the bluebags. So much fun at Henson Park though. Whether yelling out "lolly legs" as the opposition made a goal attempt, sliding down the hill on cardboard sheets, or inching onto the field in the final minutes, in the hopes of snatching a corner post. The only time I was ever first to one though, it was almost instantly ripped in half by some bigger kid.

Good research and good graphics. Nice one.

Very impressive this. Thanks for bringing back memories

Thanks for the post Steven , much appreciated mate 👌

I was at the 81 final against Easts. Went with a mate from school, he was a Easts fan. I was a Sharks fan, but went for the Jets that day.

Cool mate,,my mother is born in Newtown,,I go for Parra,,,,my cousin is Phil Sigsworth

Nice clip man! Brought back lots of memories! 👍

Who remembers the debut of Manfred Mann?

I sold cornettos at at Henson Park in the late 70s. People were always happy and because the ice creams owed me 70-80c a unit, i was going home with stacks of 1 and 2 dollar notes 😆

very well presented!!

I saw them play Guildford in their first game back after about 8 years when they were readmitted at Erskineville Oval in (I think 1991). Chicka Moore was on the gate its theme was "Back to Bluebags Day". Maybe 1500 there. They had Barry Russell, Fred Teasdell, John Ferguson and maybe Michael Speechley playing. They won and Chicka scored. It was a great day. There were needless to say some "heavy" looking characters watching on. My mate put it succintly "spot the crim". Ha ha ha

Inner city Jets team still progressed over the years since to become the feeder club to the legendary Sharks in the NSW Cup - thanks boys keep up the good work!! :)

Most memorable part of that year. Those 2 head butts

Lord Ted Goodwin was recruited by Newtown in 1979 as well. I think he only played one year before moving to Wests in 1980

i am a hardcore wests magies supporter , loved Newtown also played Henson Park Colts as a forward when young , love the league but have given up can not follow West Tigers . Magpies all the way .

Thanks this was great