LeagueNews.co | Nick Loken
The Newtown Jets were left reeling after being narrowly defeated by the North Sydney Bears in an intense grand final qualifier.
The Bears managed to secure a spot in consecutive Grand Finals with a thrilling 18-16 victory at Leichhardt Oval, leaving the Jets with a bitter taste in their mouths.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Jets are now gearing up for a fierce showdown in the Preliminary final against the Canberra Raiders.
Both teams will be leaving everything on the field as they battle it out for a chance to compete in this year's Grand Final on the 29th of September.
In earlier action, the Canberra Raiders brought the Penrith Panthers' season to a crushing end with a dominant 30-14 win in the Minor Semi-final.
The Jets got off to a strong start, scoring the first try of the day through winger Sam Stonestreet after some impressive play on their line.
However, the Bears quickly clawed their way back into the match, with back rower Matt Stimson capitalizing on a fifth-play kick to put his team ahead.
It was a hard-fought battle between two fierce competitors, but in the end, the Bears emerged victorious, leaving the Jets to ponder what could have been.
Now, it's all about regrouping and putting everything on the line in the upcoming do-or-die clash with the Raiders.
The Jets will need to dig deep and show true grit if they want to keep their Grand Final dreams alive.