Locky Gilbert, Darius Boyd, Rianna Crehan and Millie Boyle battle for place in SAS Australia’s last three
SPOILER ALERT: After 14 days of military rations, camp beds, freezing showers and torturous challenges, one SAS Australia contestant has fallen at the final hurdle.
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After 14 days of being pushed beyond their absolute limits, overcoming mental challenges and surviving on military rations, NRLW player Millie Boyle, retired NRL legend Darius Boyd and motorsports presenter Rianna Crehan have passed the gruelling SAS Australia selection.
On Monday night the trio joined season 1’s Nick “Honeybadger Cummins”, comedian Merrick Watts, AFLW’s Sabrina Frederick and season 2’s Sam Burgess as an illustrious few who have survived the tortuous course as part of the Channel 7 reality show.
Reality TV star Locky Gilbert was culled in a joint decision by staff and the remaining recruits ahead of the final challenge.
It was a bacon and eggs breakfast as two hellish weeks of intense military training came to an end. The final four joking just how little they had left in the tank and how stinky they smelt. Boyle resorting to fly spray as deodorant.
“I don’t know how many floggings I got left in me,” Boyd said.
Crehan replied: “I’ve got half of one maybe.”
Gilbert: “I’m depleting my reserves tanks now.”
Crehan: “The orange light’s been on for days, we’e on zero kilometres now”
Gilbert added that he wanted to complete the course to prove with everything inside of him that he was mentally strong.
The four faced another terrifying test – a petrifying helicopter insertion into enemy territory, where they must cover their tracks to locate a cache containing important information.
Chief instructor Ant Middleton said the course was designed for nobody to pass.
“202 started my course and only eight passed,” he said.
“We’re here to see if you can meet a certain criteria. It is a unique bond we share as a brotherhood.
“We want to know have you got what it takes to put yourself in the most uncomfortable of uncomfortable positions to pass this course.”
The four jumped out of helicopter, swam to a boat, rowing into the shore, before carrying the boat up dunes – Crehan stumbling a few times and worried that would mean she would be seen as weak ahead of the peer cull.
Team leader Boyle took them way off track to find the military vehicle, until remembering to consult the map.
After successfully completing the penultimate task, Middleton and the DS Clint Emerson, Ollie Ollerson and Dean Stott took each recruit aside to ask who they would drop from selection.
“Teamwork, trust, sincerity and integrity (are crucial) tell me who you would drop?,” Ollerson asked.
Boyle and Gilbert chose Crehan, with Boyd and Crehan chose Gilbert.
“When you talk about trust – I’m not sure I have that with No. 10 (Gilbert),” Boyd said.
With the votes deadlocked, The DS had the casting vote and chose Gilbert, asking him to step forward and hand in his number.
“You were absolutely amazing and can walk away with your head held high,” Middleton said.
Gilbert was composed but devastated as he left the course.
“That’s the worst way you can go out,” he said.
“To be voted out by your peers.
“I think to fight through the disappointment I’ll have to think about what I’ve done.
“It’s about learning (from the failure) and take all those lessons into life and just become a better person.”
The remaining three then faced their final daunting task – retrieving a bag from a steep, 100m-high cliff face.
“Everything you’ve got leave on that rock,” Middleton urged.
“Everything you’ve been told to harness, harness that to your advantage and make them work for you.
“Do everything you can.”
And then reminded them that “just because you’ve completed the mission doesn’t mean you’ve gained selection.”
Crehan and Boyd managed the mission with just seconds to spare.
Boyle had the tougher task as pouring rain amped up as she was hauling herself up the steep cliff face. She eventually reached the top with just two seconds on the clock.
The DS headed off to deliberate if the three had everything it took to deserve selection.
“Would I have all three of them in my team?,” Middleton mused.
“We’re looking for integrity, grit and determination.”
It was nervous few minutes as Crehan, Boyd and Boyle stood in front of Middleton and the staff as they announced who would win.
“If they didn’t think I was good enough, that would hurt yeah,” Boyd said.
Middleton smiled broadly as he announced “You have all passed selection. Well done.”
It was hugs and tears all round.
“This has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life – physically, mentally but life changing,” Crehan said.
While Boyle said she was just buzzing with emotion – it’s been the longest two weeks of my life.”
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Originally published as Locky Gilbert, Darius Boyd, Rianna Crehan and Millie Boyle battle for place in SAS Australia’s last three
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