34 matches [1967-1983]
13 wins, 18 losses, 3 draws
Stats: themightypanthers.com/results_headtohead_newtown.htm
Newtown were one of the original nine foundation premiership teams that played in the first Sydney premiership season in 1908.
Known then as the “Blue Bags”, they hold a prominent spot in the Panthers history, as they were the opponents in their first home match at Penrith Park in the second round of their inaugural season in 1967, but also Penrith recorded their first premiership victory in that same match. The Panthers came back from a 10-8 half time deficit to score two second half tries to win 16-10.
In the 1968 pre-season Wills Cup, Penrith defeated Newtown in the final to win their first piece of silverware.
At the end of the 1960s, the ledger read 3 wins and 1 draw from 6 matches.
Newtown would have the better of Penrith in the first half of the 1970s, who would be known as the Jets from 1973. They won 7 of the 12 matches, with 2 draws in the mix as well. One of these wins was a 26-9 victory in 1971 (which would their biggest ever win against Newtown), as well as winning both meetings in the 1974 season, winning a tight 9-5 match at Penrith Park, and overcoming a second half comeback from the Jets to sneak home 22-21 in the final round at Henson Park.
The Panthers would win 6 of the 8 matches from 1976 to 1979, including 6 in a row from 1976 to 1978.
On the bounce, the Jets would win the next 7 in a row up until the 1983 season. The Panthers broke this streak with a 10-2 victory at Penrith Park in the penultimate round.
It would the last time the two teams would meet in what was then the Winfield Cup, as the Jets were excluded from the 1984 competition due to a range of factors.
The Jets re-emerged, firstly in the third-tier Metropolitan Cup in 1990, and then since 2000 in the second tier NSW Cup, striking partnership deals with various NRL clubs over the years to act as their feeder club. It has allowed the Panthers, in some capacity, to continue a rivalry against the Jets.
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