Clayton Cup: Camden Rams named best Country RL team in NSW
With the Macarthur trophy already in the cabinet, the unbeaten Camden Rams have been awarded the Clayton Cup as the best Country RL team in NSW. Hear from captain-coach Brad Speechley.
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With the Macarthur premiership trophy already in safekeeping, the Camden Rams are now the official kings of bush footy after winning the Clayton Cup as the state’s best Country RL team.
Awarded annually since 1937 to the top performing side in regional NSW, the undefeated Rams edged out Group 21 heavyweights the Scone Thoroughbreds to be awarded the prestigious trophy by the NSWRL.
Satisfied with a perfect 18-game season, proud captain-coach Brad Speechley was still coming to terms with the enormity of the achievement.
“The Clayton Cup has been around for more than 80 years and this is only the fourth time it has been held by a Group 6/Macarthur team,” said Speechley.
“We’re stoked to win a Macarthur premiership because it’s such a tough comp, but to win it and now be recognised around the entire state is pretty special.
“The significance hit home after the presentation when the Camden Old Boys kept coming up and saying how proud they are and how big the achievement is.”
With a rich history dating back to 1910, Camden were largely untouchable in claiming the club’s 11th title, although for Speechley, the prospect of claiming a maiden Clayton Cup only became a talking point ahead of the finals.
“I was trying not to think about it throughout the year, but eventually it got to a point where everyone was saying, ‘Can anyone beat Camden?’” said Speechley.
“We actually held a meeting to address it just before finals, and acknowledged there was an extra piece of history we could create.
“This year the club celebrated the 30th anniversary of the 1994 premiership winning side. They were such a great team, so it puts into context how good our season was.”
Traditionally awarded to a team with an unblemished record, Camden’s hopes almost went up in smoke on grand final day amid a remarkable Oaks Tigers comeback.
Seemingly dead and buried midway through the second half, The Oaks turned the tables, reeling in an 18-point deficit before the Rams kicked again to win 38-26 in extra time.
“Last year we entered the grand final as favourites and didn’t present on the day and got beaten,” said Speechley about Camden’s loss to Thirlmere in 2023.
“This year we had good patches but were nowhere near our best, and when The Oaks came back and levelled I was happy to hear the full time siren because it gave us time to reset.
“It wasn’t golden point, so it helped knowing there was 10 extra minutes. And if we couldn’t get ahead during that, then we probably didn’t deserve it.”
Far from being an overnight success, Speechley has been a key member of a largely stable team that has contested the last three grand finals and secured two premierships. And while a quality roster is important, the halfback attributes sustained success to several key ingredients.
“The club has been building over a period of time,” he said. “We’ve lost players in recent years who have gone looking for higher honours, but I always take pride in the fact that they aren’t leaving because they don’t like it.
“We have a strong team on paper, but so do other clubs in the Macarthur competition but it doesn’t always translate to results. The Rams committee does so much work and our sponsors are outstanding.
“We also have a strict process on accepting new players where we want them to completely buy-in. Things like helping at the canteen, setting up training or helping the juniors when required.”
With grand final victories in reserve grade and under-18s, the Rams’ future continues to shine bright. And with Speechley on board, the Grafton Ghosts’ back-to-back Clayton Cup heroics of 2010-11 are firmly in his sights.
“My plan is to collect a few of them, but that’s a big ask.”
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