Darwin Brothers come of age with 2020 NRL NT Grand Final win over two-time reigning champions Litchfield Bears at Marrara

THE young Darwin Brothers came of age with a courageous grand final 28-26 win over reigning premiers Litchfield Bears to seal the 2020 NRL NT A-grade title.

Brothers celebrate their thrilling 2020 NRL NT Grand Final win over Litchfield. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

THE young Darwin Brothers outfit came of age with a courageous 28-26 grand final win over reigning premiers Litchfield Bears to seal the 2020 NRL NT A-grade title.

The two-time champions Bears came in as raging-hot favourites with experience and previous results on their side, but Brothers refused to let that daunt them.

The fairytale victory gave captain Aaron Pollard and his squad their first taste of finals glory.

“There are a lot of emotions. It’s been a long time for this club and we’ve finally pulled through and that’s down to the hard work the club has put into these juniors,” Pollard said.

“Now everyone here is not only a grand finalist but winners. We were hungry and believed in each other, that’s what this club is about.

“They shouldn’t have given us a taste because with these young guys we won’t go away.”

Brothers mentor Leon Cleal has an impressive coaching resume, winning a Queensland Cup title with Sunshine Coast as the team’s assistant in 2009, but he named Saturday night’s triumph as one of his proudest wins.

“The emotion is overwhelming. We’ve held it back for the past few weeks to build to this,” Cleal said.

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The Bears refused to go down without a fight, applying pressure offensively and scoring late through Clint Chettle, Luke Beatty and Sam McAuley as Brothers began to tire, before holding on and sending their partisan fans into raptures.

“I thought it may have been a bit to much for them in the last 20 when Litchfield came back at us but to their credit they held on,” Cleal said.

“They’ve got a real self-belief that even I underestimate.

“This rates up there as one of the best wins I’ve had. Next year will be a big challenge for us as we become the hunted but we’re not going to think about that now.”

Litchfield probed early on with plenty of chips over the Brothers defensive line, but the young Brethren proved to be no pushovers under the high ball.

And it was Brothers with their speedy backs who scored first.

A run from grand final best-and-fairest Nick Yarran down the left wing gave the side the momentum needed to see Rodney Baird over the line moments later.

Brothers found themselves scoring again soon afterwards, a Thomas Clarke chip gifting his side’s most experienced player, Leon Rotumah, with a try.

But the Bears weren’t out of the battle long with big Adam Hall crashing over to bring the two-time premiers back within a score.

The Brethren kept composure beyond their collective experience and pushed on in attack, with Yarran this time scoring himself after breaking a tackle on the left wing.

Litchfield opened the second half with intent but once again found themselves up against a solid Brothers line.

Inspired by their defensive work the Brethren pushed up the field once again and another Clarke chip allowed fullback Isaac Kurnoth to outpace two Litchfield defenders to score.

Aidan Singleton scored soon after and by then the young Brothers could dare to dream of a title, before just holding on after the late Bears four-try surge.