By Tallon Smith

The Manildra Rhinos are again the Woodbridge Cup Premiers in 2023 after an 18-16 win over the Trundle Boomers on their home turf at Jack Huxley Oval on Sunday afternoon.

After breaking a 23-year drought stretching back to their Group 11 triumph in 1999 last season, the Rhinos held on for the narrow win over the Boomers, washing away the pain of a 56-0 loss to Trundle in the 2019 decider and a 26-22 defeat the year before on an emotional day for the proud small-town club.

A penalty goal to Mitch Gibson way back in the 15th minute proved the difference at the end of the contest, after he and Trundle kicker Mitch Wright both landed two conversions and the sides finished with three tries apiece.

Manildra President Mick Gibson said that the community was “ecstatic” following the result, with the contest going down to the final whistle.

“The game was typical of bush football, it was a hard game, no dirt, just two teams playing footy,” he said.

“There was only two points in it.

“We did it this year, there was good work all through the year.”

Gibson said that as a small town, it requires a committed community effort to ensure the Rhinos can continue to flourish on and off the field.

“We only have around 500 people in town,” he said.

“The club is very family orientated, we have brothers and brother in-laws playing alongside each other.

“To be fair we’re not much different to Trundle [in that respect].”

After facing some very difficult circumstances at the beginning of the year, much like many other teams in the district, Gibson said that the stars aligned for the club following a lot of hard work with the League Tag side also triumphing 10-6 over Cargo earlier in the day.

“This year we got knocked around by the floods,” he said.

“We put our hand up to host the Grand Finals and won it in two grades.

“It was good to have both grades in it this year.

“Today will go a long way to paying for that [the flood damage].”

Gibson also highlighted the massive role that football plays in building a sense of community and keeping people connected in country communities, where mental health remains a big issue.

“It’s good for mental health, playing footy and having a beer and a yarn,” he said.

“We try to get all the guys together.

“We’re building a community based venture.” 

As mentioned above, after painstakingly losing last season’s decider to Grenfell by four points, the Rhinos took home this year’s League Tag title with a 10-6 win over the Cargo Blue Heelers.

Holly Gibson and Hayley Sharpless were the tryscorers for Manildra, whilst Molly Hoswell kicked one from two conversions to guide the side to the victory and a double premiership season.

Meanwhile, the Molong Bulls took home the Youth League decider with a 13-6 triumph over Canowindra.