2023 year in review: We look back at 16 of the biggest stories, moments in NSW Local rugby league
2023 saw more memorable, unforgettable moments that make local rugby league so special. We take a look back at 16 of the biggest storylines from the year that was in NSW local footy.
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Local footy has provided some golden and memorable moments throughout the 2023 season.
From grand final comebacks, last minute match winners and incredible individual displays, we witnessed it all.
We take a look back at the 16 biggest moments of NSW Local Footy in 2023, plus give you the chance to vote for your favourite.
Voting begins on the Local Footy NSW Facebook page on 18 December. Check in every day to vote for your favourite moments.
MOUNTIES PLACE IN HISTORY
It looked like we were destined for a scoreless grand final, before Mounties halfback Matilda Power came up clutch in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership.
The result? A 1-0 final scoreline that will go down in history as one of the most bizarre seen at any level.
BELGROVE/TRINDALL BRILLIANCE IN SOUTHS’ DECIDERS
Two players produced big moments in the Souths Juniors senior grand finals.
It started with Jake Trindall of the Alexandria Rovers racing almost 30 metres to score the match winning try in reserve grade.
Then it was Jay Belgrove of Redfern who’s miracle offload completed an unlikely comeback for the All Blacks to claim the A-grade crown.
ROOSTERS COMPLETE PERFECT SEASON
For the neutral it was the perfect grand final with two undefeated Tarsha Gale teams, and the Roosters and Bulldogs delivered a classic.
In a seesawing affair, a late try to Brooke Talataina helped the Roosters make it back-to-back premierships.
DOGS YOUNG GUNS FIRE WHEN IT COUNTS
Thrashed by Penrith and defeated by Newcastle in the regular season, Canterbury came into the Harold Matts finals as underdogs.
They turned the tables when it mattered, scoring big wins over the pair on their way to grand final glory with gun dual-code star Mitchell Woods leading the way.
SANDERS MAGIC LIFTS EELS IN BALL
Such is the talent of Ethan Sanders he’s being classed as the game’s next star half, and that ability was on full display in SG Ball.
The classy half led Parramatta to a grand final victory before going on to inspire them to a finals run in Jersey Flegg.
MAGPIES EARLY BLITZ DENIES MILPERRA
Wentworthville claimed a thrilling NSWRL Women’s Open Gold success in what was a game of two halves against Milperra.
After shutting them out 22-0 in the first half, they held off a late charge to escape with a 22-18 victory on the back of a player of the match performance from Kailey Thompson.
NEWCASTLE STAMPS ITS AUTHORITY
Newcastle’s claims to being the best regional competition in Australia were further enhanced with a dominant showing in the Men’s Country Championships.
The Rebels ran out 49-16 winners over a strong Riverina team and there’s already talks about how they intend to keep that trophy in the Hunter next year.
WALGETT, NEWCASTLE EARN KOORI HONOURS
Walgett ended an almost 10-year drought to claim the men’s Koori Knockout final, with a star-studded team including Jack Wighton and Ben Barba getting the job done.
The women’s decider saw Caitlin Moran step up to the plate and slot an extra-time field goal to lift Newcastle Yowies to a narrow win over Redfern.
TUMUT RETURNS TO THE SUMMIT
The Tumut Blues won their 10th Group 9 premiership in a hard-fought win over the Wagga Kangaroos.
Halfback Lachlan Bristow was named man of the match for his leadership on the field, including slotting a field goal to break the deadlock late in the game.
THIRLMERE, THE MACARTHUR CARDIAC KINGS
Thirlmere dashed Camden’s hopes of back-to-back titles in the Macarthur comp after the Roosters edged out the Rams in an epic decider.
But without veteran centre Josh Bryant’s final minute heroics the week before, Thirlmere’s title hopes would have evaporated in a puff of smoke.
EMU PLAINS FLIP THE SCRIPT
Following their heartbreaking grand final loss 12 months earlier, Emu Plains struck late to sink Windsor in the Penrith Division 1 decider.
It followed an extraordinary qualifier a week earlier where Emu Plains advanced past St Patricks, in a contest that brought an end to an “archaic rule”.
CUDGEN COMPLETE BUSH FOOTY FAIRYTALE
One month before the end of the regular season, the Cudgen Hornets were running eighth in the NRRRL and looked dead and buried.
However with troops returning from a horror injury crisis, the team flipped the script, winning four of the their last five – including coming from 13-0 down at halftime against local rivals the Tweed Coast Raiders – to sneak into the finals.
From here, the team went on a stunning run through the finals, knocking off Evans Head, Northern United and defending premiers Bilambil to set up a grand final with minor premiers Ballina.
And while most thought their run would come to an end at the hands of the Seagulls, Cudgen bullied Ballina with a brilliant second half to take out the grand final 18-4 and cap off a brilliant bush footy fairytale.
MAITLAND WRITE THEMSELVES INTO IMMORTALITY
Whenever anyone asks about the greatest non-professional rugby league teams of all time, the Maitland Pickers’ side of 2023 would have to be in the discussion.
Hammering home their reputation as the best non-NRL affiliated side in the state, the Pickers defended their unbelievable treble by taking out the Newcastle Rugby League minor and major premiership as well as the NSWRL-run Presidents Cup for the second year in a row.
It continued an incredible recent legacy for the club, which won the Newcastle RL minor premiership in the Covid-disrupted season of 2021 and beat the best semi-professional teams from Sydney, Wollongong and the Central West to claim the unique Presidents Cup title in 2020.
TOUKLEY CEMENT THEIR LEGACY
Long the little brothers of Central Coast football, the Toukley Hawks confirmed their spot as modern giants of the local league after going back to back in 2023.
After breaking a 55-year drought to win the club’s inaugural first grade premiership last year, the Hawks put in a defensive performance for the ages to edge out Erina 8-6 in a thrilling GF.
Already club legends on the back of 2022’s efforts, the Hawks players were swamped by fans after the full-time whistle as they further cemented their place in the club’s history books.
A WIN 777 DAYS IN THE MAKING
The Corrimal Cougars are one of the longest serving clubs in the Illawarra region with over a century of history.
However, over the past few years they’ve been rooted to the bottom of the Illawarra Cup ladder, getting battered week after week and approaching two years without a win.
At last though, in round 14 of the season, the Cougars ended a 777 day winless run in first grade with a 36-18 win over the Dapto Canaries, in a moment so overwhelming for some players that they were reduced to tears of joy.
In a competition with just six teams, the Cougars play such an important role in turning up every week to ensure the competition stays afloat, so for them to finally get a win after nearly two years was a beautiful moment for the neutral fan.
To make it even more special, they achieved victory at their home ground Ziems Park on Old Boys Day, in front of Cougars of generations past.
GERRINGONG’S HISTORY-MAKING GRAND FINAL WIN
Gerringong’s 12-10 victory over the Shellharbour Sharks in the Group 7 grand final was special for so many reasons.
It was the 21st premiership in the storied history of the Lions, more than anyone else in the region.
The win was a thrilling comeback, having been down with minutes to go before a try from big prop forward Alexander Weir.
The premiership was the incredible sixth individual premiership for veterans Nathan Ford and Rixon Russell.
But perhaps the most impressive fete from a club perspective was the fact that 16 out of 17 players lining up for the Lions on grand final day were local juniors, a testament to the terrific building blocks for rugby league greatness in place at the Lions.
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