By John Fitzgerald

From not winning a game in the pre-season competition at Blayney in March, Manildra Rhinos worked their way through 15 premiership games to score a commanding victory in the 2024 Grand Final.

Three times winners after Sunday’s success, their 20-4 defeat of Canowindra was as decisive as could be expected after the regular season finished four weeks ago.

Their premiership season began with a win in their first game but, beaten by Trundle in the second, fell in behind unbeaten newcomers Cowra, and well beaten by the Magpies 36-16 in round 9.

Manildra generally left their pre-season form behind once the competition started while they maintained a position among the top three sides for most of the year, but with an occasional less-than-impressive result.

However when outcomes became critical when semi-final time came around Manildra showed glimpses of true form when they defeated Cowra while Canowindra’s win over Trundle pushed the Boomers into a do-or-die contest with Manildra.

Canowindra disposed of Cowra in their qualifier game, and Manildra’s win ended Trundle’s season.

The Grand Final at Peak Hill was not a game for the faint hearted.

It took 20 minutes of typical Grand Final brick wall defence before a first score.

Manildra’s Flynn Fahey scored halfway through the first half for a 4-0 score after an unsuccessful conversion attempt.

It was another 10 minutes before a second try, by teammate Max Yelland, put Manildra eight points in front, still a flimsy lead against the strong Canowindra side.

The Rhinos looked more comfortable three minutes later after Jayden Fahey’s try extended the lead to 12-0.

However, with Canowindra’s first try five minutes before the break and a 12-4 scoreline, the Tigers were back in the contest.

As the game progressed through most of the second half to the 75th minute without any further points, Manildra, while not adding to their total, kept a solid wall of defence to keep their rivals scoreless.

With five minutes to go Rhinos’ Ben Franklin went across for a converted try for an 18-4 scoreline and it was then beyond any doubt Manildra would take premiership honours for a third time.

A penalty goal in the final minute closed scoring for the day at 20-4.

The Oberon Tigers were knocked out of the finals in their first semi-final, beaten by Peak Hill who, in turn, were eliminated by Cowra.

In the League Tag Grand Final the Manildra and Canowindra clubs were involved also, with the same but less decisive result, a win for a second year, to the Manildra Rhinettes 10-6.