Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League: The 10 moments that decided the Cudgen-Ballina grand final

From barnstorming runs to costly errors and match-defining plays, take a look at the big moments that decided the NRRRL first grade grand final between Cudgen and Ballina.

Shots from the 2023 NRRRL grand final between the Cudgen Hornets and Ballina Seagulls. Photo: Elise Derwin

It’s an old adage that the big games are decided by key moments.

From junior league, to State of Origin and grand finals at any level, it is often the small moments that have a very big say in deciding which team walks away with the trophy.

After Cudgen’s epic 18-4 victory over Ballina at Kingsford Smith Park, we’ve taken a look at the top 10 moments that decided the 2023 NRRRL grand final.

Ballina strikes first

After a tight opening that saw both sides start well, it was the Seagulls who drew first blood after 12 minutes.

Receiving the ball 25m out from the Cudgen line on the last, Ballina five-eighth Jared Lofts took advantage of the stiff wind at his team’s back to put up a swirling bomb towards his right wing.

Deceived by the wind, Cudgen winger Connah Mills allowed the ball to bounce, before batting it forward, with Ballina’s Tim Cassidy swooping on the scraps to score in the corner in what was a great start for the Seagulls.

Mouse trap almost gets the cheese

It might be considered by most to be a comical oddity of a bygone era, but the mouse trap was almost deployed with maximum effectiveness on the grand stage as the Hornets pushed for a try midway through the first half.

Just a couple of metres out from Ballina’s line, hooker Andrew Battese feigned to take the ball, with Zac Blatter sweeping through from behind to pick it up and charge towards the line.

At one stage he looked certain to score, however some desperate defence from the Seagulls managed to roll the big lock on his back and ensure he was stopped agonisingly close of the line – and just short of creating a very unique grand final highlight.

Seagulls’ costly drop

The home side had a golden opportunity to extend its lead in the 30th minute after a spread to the left put Dan Gibson on the outside of his opposing defender.

However just 15m out from Cudgen’s line and with a two-on-one looming, the centre spilled the ball in what would ultimately prove to be a costly error, as a try and potential 10-0 lead could well have changed the nature of the contest.

Pitt stopped just short

Fred Pitt went close just before halftime. Photo: Elise Derwin

The Seagulls were having success down their left edge and went close once again four minutes later when a nice spread put winger Fred Pitt in half a yard of space.

Cutting back in from the touchline, the powerful winger beat four Cudgen defenders on a weaving run before four more combined to eventually put him down just a couple of metres short to ensure the scoreline remained 4-0 at the break.

Hornets’ big first set

Zac Blattner helped get Cudgen firing after the break. Photo: Elise Derwin

Although they were down at halftime, the Cudgen players were reasonably happy to still be within touching distance of Ballina given the stiff breeze blowing in their faces.

And with the wind at their backs in the second, they didn’t waste any time trying to capitalise on it, with barnstorming runs from Connor Ziebell, Caleb Ziebell and Zac Blattner getting the team over halfway before a penalty put them right in Ballina’s danger zone.

Jordan Kempnich and Sam Grant tested the defence with dangerous runs before Caleb Ziebell finished what he started by charging over next to the sticks – just one minute and 39 seconds into the second half.

Kirkham’s close call

Cudgen were well and truly on top in the opening stages of the second half and Corey Kirkham came agonisingly close to bagging the Hornets’ second in the 52nd minute after a brilliant solo run.

Receiving the ball 30m out from the Ballina line, the backrower put on a lovely left-foot step to slice through the Seagulls’ defence before putting the head down and charging towards the line.

However as he stretched out to plant the ball down, Kirkham was ruled to have lost the ball just centimetres short of the line, under heavy pressure from Ballina’s Zac Beecher and Brandon Lee.

Battese’s 40/20 vision

Andrew Battese’s moment of brilliance tipped the scales in Cudgen’s favour. Photo: Elise Derwin

While the Hornets had been well and truly knocking on the door, with Sam Togo pulled up one metre short and Connor Ziebell held up over the line, it took a moment of brilliance to help break Ballina’s resolve.

And fresh from winning the game for his team with a field goal in the preliminary final a week earlier, grand final specialist Andrew Battese once again stepped up with a moment of magic with 16 minutes remaining.

In his first touch since coming back onto the field, the hooker pushed teammate Sam Grant away from the play-the-ball, picked up the ball from dummy half and showed wonderful vision to kick a 40/20 to give his side another golden opportunity to attack Ballina’s line.

Ziebell brothers’ backyard footy connection

With Battese putting the side in excellent field position, it was left to the Ziebell brothers to push Cudgen further ahead with a play that looked like it had been refined over years of playing backyard footy together.

Charging onto the ball 10m out from the Ballina line, big brother Caleb approached the Seagulls’ defensive and, in seeing the defenders slide in to make the tackle, threw a nice short ball for his little brother Connor, who was right on cue to run through the gap and put Cudgen up 12-4 with 15 minutes to play.

Toon seals the deal

Cudgen had all the momentum after Ziebell’s try and with a penalty in the first set after the kick-off, they were once again putting the pressure on Ballina.

While the Ziebells, Kirkham and Togo had all troubled the home side, prop Luke Toon decided he’d get in on the action with a brilliant solo run to put the game to bed.

Charging onto the ball 20m out from the Seagulls’ line, Toon initially bounced off two defenders, used his speed to bypass another three before running over the top of fullback Zac Beecher to extend the lead to 18-4 and kick off hearty celebrations among the travelling supporters.

The Cudgen wall holds firm

While it might not have had too much of a bearing on the final result, Cudgen centre Luke Dumas epitomised his side’s incredible defensive steel in the final moments of the match when he dragged Ballina’s Hamish McClintock into touch just as the young half appeared certain to score in the corner.

The veteran was swamped by his teammates as the great wall of Cudgen held firm once again to secure the club’s first NRRRL premiership since 2006.