Tiwi Bombers star defender Rodney Baird says he ‘can’t walk away’ from 2020 NRL NT premiers Darwin Brothers after grand final

IT was only the COVID-19 crisis in Victoria which prevented star Tiwi Bombers defender Rodney Baird from playing football down south this NTFL off-season. Now the flying rugby league centre ‘can’t walk away’ from his NRL NT premiership-winning teammates after Saturday night’s remarkable grand final triumph over Litchfield.

Darwin Brothers celebrate their remarkable 28-26 upset win over two-time reigning champions Litchfield after the 2020 NRL NT Grand Final. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

BROTHERS centre Rodney Baird said it would be hard not to return to the blue and whites next year after his team’s fairytale upset 28-26 victory over Litchfield in the 2020 NRL NT Grand Final.

It was only by chance the 21-year-old ended back at his junior rugby league club, with COVID-19 restrictions preventing the star Tiwi Bombers defender from flying down south and playing football in the NTFL off-season.

And it was a decision he is now delighted with after scoring a try in the Brethren’s title triumph at Marrara on Saturday night.

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

Brothers’ Nick Yarran takes out the best on ground in his side’s NRL NT A-grade grand final win over Litchfield Bears at Marrara

Darwin Brothers prop Nick Sauer said a chance conversation led to him joining Brothers, now the NRL NT premiership winner’s ‘addicted’

“(Next year) anything is possible, but you can’t walk away from a premiership-winning side,” Baird told the NT News.

“I love this club. Half this team is 23 or 21 and under, and we really shocked the league this year.

“There are only great things to come. Leon Rotumah hanging around to help the young guys come through was really good for their development.

“We don’t know if this will be his last year playing, but he’s still playing good footy.”

Baird paid winger and best-on-ground Nick Yarran the ultimate compliment.

“He’s always outside me. I trust that he’ll always be there, pull his weight and get us on the front foot,” Baird said.

“He’s a freak. He’s an NTFL premiership winner and now he’s best on ground in an NRL NT grand final.”

Baird said all his teammates in the forward pack also stood up.

“They all played a big role. Lachlan Braun off the bench got us on the front foot after Brayden Daley laid a great platform,” Baird said.