Jets get first win of the year against Magpies

Lachlan Cooper has kicked the door down to record the Ipswich Jets' first win in 280 days.

The lights went out in Cameron Smith Stand at Marsden, but nothing could stop Cooper seeing clearly against his former team.

The Jets half kicked four from four off the tee and had a hand in two tries off his boot to get the Jets home against Souths Logan Magpies.

The Jets have struggled to find rhythm in the first 20 minutes of their Hostplus Cup games and only scored seven tries in the first 20 minutes this season while allowing 18 to the opposition. This has meant the Jets are consistently chasing from early in the game.

A fast start would be vital to both teams getting a much-needed win with the Magpies losing four in a row and the Jets losing 10 in a row, this wasn’t a game either team would be able to drop.

The Jets sustained some pressure on the Magpies by earning a repeat set and on the back of a Magpies error the Jets were able to set out to the right with Rhys Jacks and Cooper playing with width.

It was then over to Jets captain Nat Neale running a nice line that caught some Magpies not ready and a Jets try.

Neale, celebrating game 172 for the Jets, scored try number 37 to go past Jarrod McInally and Richie Pandia and equal Brendon Lindsay for 11th most tries for the Jets.

The last time Neale scored for the Jets was the last game the Jets won; Jets fans were daring to dream.

The Magpies came straight back with their own start.

The Magpies had their first try in the 10th minute; a set starting 80 metres away ended with a try to Brad Frith. Magpies front rower Fabien Paletu-Kiri got the Magpies a great play the ball and Jackson Hickson chipped for his half to score.

The last time a Sailor played against the Jets it was Wendell Sailor in 2008 for the Burleigh Bears in a 32-22 upset, but this time it his son Tristian Sailor.

Sailor was making it magpie season. The Magpies went right to centre field with Sailor out the back on the left, when they came back the Jets didn’t move up or have their spacing right and Sailor had his second try.

The Jets good start was disappearing at 12-6 after 15 minutes.

The Jets' Gerome Burns made it reappear like a magic trick when he brought the Magpies defence up and then rolled it through for his eighth try in 10 games for the Jets; 12-12 and 27 minutes gone showed chances would present if you could apply some pressure and stay in good ball area enough.

The clock was winding down when it was the Jets double Burns act; Denzel and Gerome chipping for each other, Jets fullback Denzel Burns looked certain to score but was pulled down just short of the line.

The Jets re-set and Cooper saw space and Jets outside and kicked perfectly for Ratu Jope Rotavisoro to score in the corner and give the Jets a half-time lead for the first time since the last round of 2021 against Norths Devils.

Cooper had three from three and the Jets had an 18-12 lead at half-time.