Blokes in new and old Newtown jerseys stand on the hill, enjoying the vibe, each other’s company, the beers in their hand and the winter sun piercing their vision of what’s happening on the field. A lot of the men watching on are dads, pretending to be their dads, jealous of the fun their elders used to have at the footy before the world went litigation-crazy. There are middle-aged people and old-timers who you can tell have been coming to this ground since they were kids, and won’t be done coming for a while yet. There’s hipsters (Newtown’s most famous export), yummy mummies, bogans, rich young kids on the booze, families, young couples on the ultimate first date, and even people here just for the craft beer. And that’s okay.

Today is popular Jets utility Kurt Kara’s 150th appearance in the Intrust Super Premiership. Kara, an off-spring in his arms, leads Newtown out of the bowels of the magnificent King George V Memorial grandstand and through a celebratory royal blue banner made to honour his loyalty and games milestone. Edrick Lee opens the hosts’ account in just the second minute of play, sending Henson Park into raptures. The former Raiders wingman, now Newtown right-side flyer, touches down with relative ease on the end of a well-worked backline shift.

(Photo by MARIO FACCHINI - MAF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Lee’s try is a trigger for one of rugby league’s unique characters to swing into action. For the past five or six years, John “Jet” Trad has been running laps of Henson Park on a BMX-style penny farthing after each Newtown try, much to the delight of the Bluebags’ younger fans who try and keep up with the flag-flying legend and true Newtown disciple.

The Jets are completely dominating the Warriors, and take a 28-0 nil lead at half-time. The word “no” doesn’t exist in these parts. So are the kids allowed onto the field at fulltime, unlike at your typical NRL stadium? Hell yeah; they’re even encouraged to go on at half-time. Take your ball out there and score a try under the posts, kids.

Henson Park’s history is as unique as the clientele it attracts on game days. Long before the Jets arrived, it was the site of a brickyard belonging to the Standsure Brick Company (1886 to 1914) and operated by a Thomas Daley. Today, the park is set within a shallow hollow, formed by the upper edges of the former brickpit. This explains the giant hill, which is of rugby league lore. If you can’t relax here with the sun tanning your face, a beer in one hand and a pie or sausage sizzle in the other, you’re of a different make to the rest of us.

According to the internet, when the brickworks closed, the pits filled with rain and ground water. The largest waterhole was known as “The Blue Hole” and was up to 20 metres deep in some places. Marrickville Council bought the site in 1923 due to the dangers it posed to the local community (nine young boys are said to have drowned in the old water hole). The sports oval you see today was established a decade later in 1933.

(Photo by MARIO FACCHINI - MAF PHOTOGRAPHY)