NSWRL grand finals: Newtown, Canterbury and Illawarra share in premiership glory
It was a NSWRL grand final day to remember at CommBank Stadium with the NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg and Women’s Premiership games all going to the wire. Full wrap of each match and PHOTO GALLERY.
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Three trophies were up for grabs on a huge day of NSWRL grand finals at Commbank Stadium.
In the under-21s, reigning premiers the Canterbury Bulldogs met the fast finishing Cronulla Sharks in the Jersey Flegg Cup decider.
That was followed by the Harvey Norman Women’s grand final between the Newcastle Knights and Illawarra Steelers.
Then in the NSW Cup, foundation clubs North Sydney and Newtown closed out a magic day of rugby league.
Full wrap of all games from Parramatta, plus check our huge photo gallery.
JETS SINK BEARS IN GRAND FINAL EPIC
North Sydney might be returning to the big time but Newtown is the foundation club king after the Jets hoisted the NSW Cup at CommBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In front of 10,386 rowdy fans, the clock was wound back to 1943 when the clubs last clashed in a grand final. And once again it was Newtown who had the last laugh, as the Bluebags landed the feeder club’s third title since 2012 with a 28-22 victory.
In an end-to-end epic that could have gone either way, Newtown led 16-10 at the break and snuck home on the back of a Braden Hamlin-Uele try not long after the minor premiership winning Bears blew a golden opportunity to end their 31-year title drought.
“We definitely did it the hard way,” said Newtown coach George Ndaira.
“We probably could have made the game a little bit easier, but in saying that, we had to show some resilience and defend our goal line for a long period. The boys kept turning up for each other, and it just shows the camaraderie within the side.”
Stylish Jets half Niwhai Puru was named player of the match, but Ndaira singled out towering front-rower Tuku Hau Tapuha as one Jet with a bright future.
With 10 NRL outings for Cronulla this season, the Jets coach couldn’t have been more impressed with the 22-year-old.
“Tuks was outstanding, he made his Sharks debut this year and led from the front today,” said Ndaira.
“He worked really hard and didn’t give up on anything. He’s got a big NRL career ahead of him, and I don’t think I’ll be seeing him too much next year in reserve grade.”
MAGOULIAS MAGIC
With the game on the line it was no surprise to see Newtown turn to a familiar face.
In 2019 Billy Magoulias delivered the winning play off the boot to sink Wentworthville in the decider, and when Norths levelled at 16-all the Greek international bobbed up again.
Seemingly tackled 10m shy of the tryline, the edge backrower held up a magic ball for Jordin Leiu to reach across for Newtown to jump ahead for the third time of the afternoon.
BAD NEWS BEARS
The more things change, the more they stay the same for Bears diehards.
Last year they seemingly had their first title in the bag since 1993 until Souths broke their hearts on the full time siren.
They couldn’t get ahead of Newtown, but they never rolled over and managed to come back and level the scores on four separate occasions.
At 22-all with 16 minutes on the clock, they attacked and seemed specials to deliver the killer blow until Piru swooped on a pass that saw Newtown race the ball beyond halfway.
With a head of steam a couple of plays later, Hamlin-Uele did the rest. The Sharks big man crossing for what would be the final four-pointer of the match.
“They did a play before that and put on a try,” said Piru.
“I knew it was coming when I saw the same shape, so I just had to get off the line and be in the play.”
Although it wasn’t Norths’ final shot at the title.
With five minutes remaining, winger Allan Fitzgibbon set sail for the corner. On track for his second of the half, the speedster’s desperate lunge in the corner came unstuck when several Jets bundled him over the sideline.
MORE TO COME
With the trophy in safe keeping, the premiership means Newtown fans can crank up the club song at next week’s NRL grand final.
With their ticket to the big day booked, the Jets will tackle Queensland Cup champs Norths Devils in a battle for the State Championship.
BULLDOGS HANG ON IN THRILLER
Canterbury’s young bucks continue to kick goals in the pathways after the Bulldogs downed Cronulla to claim back-to-back Jersey Flegg titles in the first of three NSWRL grand finals at Commback Stadium.
Coached by Josh Jackson, the Bulldogs were pushed all the way by a resurgent Cronulla Sharks before holding on 14-12 to win the club’s 11th under-21s title, and became the first side to win consecutive deciders since Penrith in 2006-07.
While Jackson, the former Bulldogs and Blues Origin legend guided the young pups to victory, it was a towering Queenslander who picked up the man of the match.
Despite persistent cramps in the second half, Sunshine Coast prop Jack Underhill continued to carry the side forward.
“It was like a dishwasher at the end, Cronulla just kept coming it was such a grind,” said Underhill as joyous teammates slapped him on the back.
“Everyone from No.1 to 17 stood up, it was the entire team.
“I’m a proud Queenslander but Josh is my hero. He offers plenty of tips and if I need anything he always calls me. He helps me with everything, he’s the best.”
Early on it was a contest where both sides refused to take a step backwards, but it took an ugly turn in the eighth minute when the Sharks were reduced to 12 men.
After finding the back field, Canterbury winger Jonathan Sua was taken high in a tackle that saw fullback Siteni Taukamo sent to the sin bin.
It was all Canterbury needed to break the ice and they immediately struck on the right edge through centre William Afualo.
On the losing side in last year’s Flegg decider, former Rooster Cassius Tia quickly extended Canterbury’s advantage on the back of two super individual efforts.
After kicking a 40-20, the powerful halfback dived over in the next set and converted his own try to make it 10-0.
With all the ball, Underhill and fellow middle Fahmy Toilalo led Canterbury forward and they took a 14-point advantage to the sheds when Ratu Rinakama dived into the left corner for his 14th try of the season.
Desperate for inspiration, last week’s hat-trick hero Taj Ford breathed life into a Sharks comeback with a sizzling solo effort just after halftime.
The elusive No.6 continued to challenge the line and with six minutes remaining he found unmarked winger Kristian Dixon with a perfect kick to score out wide.
With Riley Pollard’s conversion Cronulla trailed by two and with all the ball in the closing minutes could have pulled off a miracle if not for desperate Canterbury goal line defence.
WILSON STRIKES LATE FOR ILLAWARRA
It was a tough slog, but the Illawarra Steelers struck late to sink a gallant Newcastle Knights 10-6 to be crowned Harvey Norman NSW Women’s champions.
Trailing by two points with five minutes remaining, teenager Bronte Wilson stepped up when the Steelers needed it most.
Steaming onto an inside ball from hooker Kaala Cowan, the bustling prop charged across under the posts for the premiership winning try.
It was a massive play from Wilson, who earlier in the season also scored the decisive try in Illawarra’s under-19 Tarsha Gale grand final victory over Newcastle.
“It was a very stressful bit of the game, but the hole opened up and I was screaming for Kaala to pass me the ball,” said Wilson, who is still young enough to play Tarsha Gale again next year.
“It was incredible. The girls kept building the pressure and it opened up, it’s such an amazing feeling.
“Newcastle prop Grace Kukutai had a really good game for them, she was tough to handle, but we ended up getting it done.”
After a scoreless opening half, there were fears of another try-less grand final hot on the heels of Mounties’ 1-0 victory over Canterbury last season.
Illawarra dominated field position in the opening half, but Newcastle shut down several promising plays to keep their heads above water.
When Illawarra did strike, it came from an unlikely source just three minutes after the break.
In pursuit of a clearing kick, replacement forward Shae Muhleisen steamed onto a room service bounce to score against the run of play to make it 4-0.
If not for a knock-on from dummy-half, Tamika Bull would have levelled for Newcastle. But Leah Ollerton had no such issues in the 50th minute.
The speedy No.9 exploded from the ruck, beating several defenders to slide over next to the posts. And with Jessica Gentle’s conversion, Newcastle hit the front 6-4.
But it wasn’t to be for the Knight who stumbled under Wilson’s relentless pressure.
PHOTO GALLERY
NSW Cup
Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership
Jersey Flegg
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