Jersey Flegg to the rescue: The star Cronulla Sharks young guns helping Newtown Jets

As injuries mount at the back end of the season, a host of the best youngsters in the Jersey Flegg under-21s competition are stepping up to help save the NSW Cup.

Samuel Healey. Picture: NRL Photos

Newtown will continue to bank on the best young talent coming out of the Shire to overcome a crippling injury toll at Cronulla to save their NSW Cup season.

Last week’s loss to South Sydney was the Jets’ third consecutive defeat and left the inner-west club outside of the competition’s top five for the first time this year.

And with injuries piling up in the Sharks’ first grade side, feeder club Newtown have been forced to rely on Cronulla’s under-21s guns to keep them in the finals hunt.

Some of the Sharks’ brightest prospects in centre Manaia Waitere, lock Blake Hosking and bench hooker Samuel Healey will again line up for Newtown against Canberra on Saturday.

With a top-five finals system, the Jets desperately need to keep winning to book a spot in the playoffs, as they sit one point behind fifth spot with three games remaining.

“We have had to reset midway through the year with players pushing up in the NRL squad and with some longer-term injuries which has created the opportunity for our younger players to make the best of a big opportunity,” Newtown coach George Nadira said.

Young Cronulla player Samuel Healey will line up for the Jets. Picture: NRL Photos

The Jets have been without stalwart and captain, Billy Magoulias, as well as winger Josh Mansour, due to injury.

Thomas Hazelton, Connor Tracey and Jesse Colquhoun have also graduated to first grade.

Having spent time as the Sharks’ Jersey Flegg (under-21s) coach prior to joining the Jets, Nadira is well versed with the talent coming through Sydney’s south.

“They are starting to get used to the level and come into their own and we are starting to get back into the level we were in the middle (of the year),” he said.

“Every individual has different strengths but the beauty of these players is I’ve coached them before so they know the system.

“It’s been more about the guys around them to build those combinations.”

Star young lock Blake Hosking. Picture: NRL Photos

Centre prospect Manaia Waitere. Picture: NRL Photos

Nadira has been impressed with his trio of youngsters.

“Blake is a big asset for us. From the start of the game his defensive capability and technique will be on display and will definitely be involved in the big hits,” he said.

“Sam’s all energy, so when he is on he will get everyone on the front foot in both defence and attack.

“Manaia has the most amount of skill you will ever see from a young fella and has the entire world at his feet. He can break any game open and be a game winner on any given Sunday.”

The Jets have just signed a new three-year extension with the Sharks, which Nadira believes will only benefit both clubs as they look to continue their success.

“It’s a really positive relationship,” Nadira said

“Out of our entire squad that has signed with Newtown a lot of them are from the Sharks’ system and it’s great to get access to some of the best young players in the competition.”