Under-18s secure their place in Diehards history

DIEHARDS young guns will go down in history as first team to bring home a U18s TRL premiership in 25 years.

VICTORY AT LAST: The Diehards Under-18s celebrated their premiership win on Sunday. Picture: Contributed

RUGBY LEAGUE: History was made last weekend when the mighty Dalby Diehards U18 side dominated the field at Clive Berghofer stadium to bring home their first TRL premiership.

The Diehards started the game strong despite running into a headwind. Dalby defe- nce stood strong, not letting Gatton score again after the first 15 minutes, leading to 20-12 score to Dalby by the end of the first half.

Gatton put up a hell of a fight, keeping the Dalby boys on their toes until the buz- zer sounded, but by the last 10 minutes Diehards supp- orters could and enjoy the final minutes as the boys brought it home 32-12.

Diehards president Tom Kelly said no words were needed when the boys came off the field as everyone knew what they'd achieved.

"It was just high-fives and hugs, there wasn't a lot of words but everyone knew what the high fives and the hugs were all about,” he said.

Coach Scott Hall said the win meant "everything” to the team and was an unfor- gettable milestone for him, the players and the club.

"There was a lot of emotion, it might not seem like much winning the 18s grand final but I won one when I was that age and it's something you never forget,” he said.

"Just with the bunch of lads I've had this year, taking these kids through to winning their first ever grand final in the U18s, you can't beat it. It's something you can never do again.”

The grand final win was a real team effort with each player doing their job and giving it their all on the field.

"Every player from 1 to 20 played their role in winning the grand final,” Kelly said.

"The fellas on the bench when they came on the field, they came with energy which kept the side going forward. Every did their job they had to do which made it easier for them in the end.”

Going down in Diehards history, Kelly said it's important to credit the players behind the win and hopes they will take away valuable life lesson.

"It's an achievement for the club to get the first premiership after 25 years but it was more rewarding for the players, they're the ones who make the sacrifices through the year to get there and the coaching staff working with them through the year, they all make sacrifices,” he said.

"I'd like to think it gives them a lot more confidence as individuals both on the football field as well as off the football field for whatever other goals they set themselves in life.”