By Tallon Smith

The Kendall Blues have been crowned the Hastings League Premiers for the 2023 season after a 34-10 win over the Beechwood Shamrocks at Kendall Showground on Saturday afternoon.

A large crowd gathered to watch the first Hastings League Final to be played outside of Wauchope in the league’s 103-year history, with the Blues piling on the points in the second half for a comprehensive victory.

Hastings League President Geoff Connor said that the decider was a “good game” and a close fought contest for the majority of the match.

“It was very close up until the last 20 minutes,” he said.

“It was 10-all at half time.

“It was an arm wrestle in the first half, but in the last quarter Kendall clicked into gear.

“The scoreline wasn’t an indication of the game.”

Connor said the League is continuing to grow and remain strong, bucking the trend for many smaller leagues which have been struggling in recent years.

“We’re always reasonably strong, we’ve got eight sides,” he said.

“All games have been strong and really competitive.

“[For example] Beechwood got over Long Flat in the last minute [in the Preliminary Final].

“We’ve got really good supporters [as well], there was a huge crowd at the Grand Final.”

The win is the Blues’ first Hastings League premiership since 2017, and marks their tenth title in the competition.

Group 19: Narwan go back to back with Grand Final victory over Inverell

The Narwan Eels have gone back to back in Group 19 with a 34-22 win over the Inverell Hawks in Sunday’s Grand Final at Bellevue Oval in Armidale.

A hat-trick to centre Siotame Vaihu spearheaded the win, with the Eels scoring six tries to four in the high-scoring encounter.

Inverell fought hard, and even led 22-18 at one stage, with Josh Boyd, Harold Duncan, Dominic Dunn and Kaleb Hope all scoring tries for the maroon and whites’ losing effort.

However, the Hawks could not withstand the attacking force of the Eels’ late charge, with Tyson Ahoy’s try signalling the beginning of celebrations for the hundreds of Narwan supporters in attendance.

The win marks the first time that Narwan have won successive premierships since 1984, when the club won their fifth straight title, and is the club’s eighth title overall. 

In the League Tag decider, Tingha defeated Bingara 8-0 for the premiership, whilst Glen Innes won the Under 18s over 30-26 Narwan.

Group 16: Merimbula-Pambula premiers after big Grand Final win

The Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs have won the Group 16 Premiership after a 38-18 defeat of the Tathra Sea Eagles at Bega Recreation Ground on Saturday. 

Trent Casey and Toroa Rapana both crossed for early doubles for the Bulldogs, who scored eight tries to three, and could have reached 48 had their goalkicking been better. 

Mitchell Carter, Josh Finucane and James Bower-Scott all crossed for tries in Tathra’s losing effort, with the Sea Eagles club’s mighty effort in making the Grand Final in three grades rewarded with a Reserve Grade premiership with a 24-6 win over Eden.

Meanwhile, Bega defeated Tathra 10-6 to win the League Tag trophy, while Merimbula-Pambula won the Under 18s with a 13-12 nail-biting win over Bega.

Goulburn Murray Premiership: Wolfpack win nail-biting Grand Final over Corowa

The Wolfpack have stamped their authority as the number one side in rugby league in North East Victoria by winning the Goulburn Murray Premiership with a 22-20 defeat of the Corowa Cougars in Sunday’s Grand Final at Glenrowan. 

After coming from third place, the Wolfpack defeated Wodonga 24-12 in the Minor Semi, and CSU 15-14 in the Preliminary Final to qualify for the big dance. 

Wolfpack Centre Vaai Vaai was the standout for his side, crossing for two tries, whilst Titi Faalia, Poutasi Faaiuaso and Newyear Patiole also crossed for the boys in red and black.

Meanwhile, despite the loss, Corowa five-eighth and captain Brendan Curry-Johnson was recognised as best on ground, as judged by NRL Victoria life member Len Mason.

Formerly based in the town of Benalla, the Wolfpack are currently in the process of relocating to the village of Eldorado, near Wangaratta, for the 2024 season.

In the Ladies League Tag Grand Final, the Tumbarumba Greens capped off an amazing return season by narrowly defeating CSU 8-6 to take home the trophy.

After leaving Group 9 in 2017 and entering recess for a year in 2018, the Greens won the Murray Cup in 2019, before entering a sustained recess post-COVID.

However, despite not forming a Senior Men’s side in 2023, the Greens entered the standalone League Tag side, and now have a premiership trophy to take home to the foothills of the mountains as they prepare to enter both grades in 2024.

Best on ground in the Ladies decider was again from the losing side, with Rebecca Groat from the CSU Mud Dogs awarded the honour.