Tallon Smith

The Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters have cemented the club’s second dynasty after winning their first back-to-back premierships since 1987-88 with a 30-22 victory over the Hay Magpies at EW Moore Oval on Sunday.

The Roosters had to come from behind twice in the second half in a never-say-die fightback that sealed the club’s third title in the past five completed seasons and their status as the dominant team of this era in Group 20.

The Magpies opened the scoring through Hugh Crighton, before Joey Peato and Jon Huggett struck back to give the Roosters a 12-6 lead.

Hay were the next to cross, levelling the game at 12-all heading into half time through Kynan Headon, before Toby Crighton gave them an 18-12 lead on the other side of the break.

Isaac Railo hit back for the Roosters, levelling the game again at 18 points each, before strike centre Brad Pocock gave Hay the lead once more at 22-18 with a quarter of the game left to play.

However some vintage form from DPC veterans Ben Jeffery and Josh Veivers helped the Roosters control the final stages, and a converted try to winger Jisharn Harrison gave them the lead, before Tom Fattore sealed the deal and the club’s seventh title with nine minutes remaining.

The Roosters clung to that advantage against a Hay side with two extra games in the legs, holding on to claim their first successive titles since their late 1980s triumphs under John Barnhill and John Clune with a thrilling eight point win.

Speaking to Battlers For Bush Footy after his side’s triumph, DPC coach Guy Thompson said that it was among the most physical games he’d been a part of.

“I give full credit to the Hay side, speaking to the boys, [it was the] most physical game, and one of the biggest games most of these boys, including myself, have been a part of,” he said.

“I think for 60 minutes of the game, they were the better side, and at the back end players like Benny Jeffery, Kane [Simpson] and [Josh] Veivers steered the ship and got us home.

“Veivers kicked every goal today, he was never gonna miss, the ice man.”

Thompson said that while it was one of the best efforts his team has put together during his tenure at the club, he has nothing but respect and admiration for the way the Magpies challenged his Roosters on Sunday.

“They came to play, and coming into the game, we hadn’t played much footy,” he said.

“I’m not one to make excuses, they’ve done well this season Hay, and to just come up short by eight points in the back end, I think the last couple of weeks has hurt them at the back end of the game.

“But in saying that, it’s probably the gutsiest effort from the Point.

“To be down 18-12 at one stage, we got a bit of ruck speed up the middle, that’s what grand finals are made of, it was an unbelievable game.”

The star of the day was 37-year-old former Titan and Tiger Ben Jeffery, who picked up the Barry Hails Medal as best on ground to go with his seventh bush footy title after three triumphs at Albury, one at Griffith Waratahs, and now three at DPC.

Thompson said that their star utility was near untouchable at certain points, with his experience proving the difference on the big stage.

“I got knocked out, he came on earlier than what we expected and never went off,” Thompson said.

“He got us home in the end [through] a couple of good decisions and experience at the back end of the game.

“He put Chaise [Sergi] through a hole that led to a try, and [then] put Chaise through again, got on the front foot, got the penalty off the back of it and Tommy Fattore scored.”

The win was also a highly emotional one, after what has been a tough year for the DPC club and the Darlington Point and Coleambally communities following the passing of former player Jabez Tietie and fellow forward Orisi Rokobati’s wife Nancy among others.

Thompson said after enduring the losses of their valued fellow community members, the players set out to honour them each week, and achieved the ultimate goal of delivering a premiership to the club in their memory.

“We made a pact at the start of the year,” he said.

“It’s just not Bez, this community has lost I think four or five people this year.

“Orisi lost his wife Nancy at the start of the season.

“We made a pact, and we said every time we go out there we play for the Hughes family, the Tietie family, and also for Orisi.

“The most emotional thing I’ve ever seen in the game of footy was today at the end of the game, when Orisi held the cup up, [it was an] unbelievable feeling, goosebumps up the back of my neck.

“The whole Point crowd erupted, he had tears in his eyes.

“He’s a Hay local, he came to us two years ago, and he’s been outstanding.”

While the Magpies made moves over the off-season to lure many locals home, including star hooker Will Barnes and Ray Thorpe Medallist Ben Arandt, and were the big improvers of season 2025, the Roosters endured a multitude of losses from last season’s premiership side.

Although they did pick up a couple of handy replacements, none more so than powerhouse second rower Billy Gilbert, Thompson said the adversity of the losses is what made Sunday’s win so special.

“This is the most special win, for me, I couldn’t say much for the other boys, but I’m pretty sure they’ve got the same buzz,” he said. 

“We lost six players out of our premiership side from last year and we signed two players, Benny Baker and Billy Gilbert, and we just brought players up from our Reserve Grade side who put in, week in, week out.

“At the start of the year, everyone wrote us off pretty early, we were 2-3 at the start and we went into the Tahs game [with a] few out.

“We never lost a game after that, it’s full credit to the boys who got us through.”

The premiership marks DPC’s seventh title in club history, following triumphs in 1980, 1983, 1987, 1988, 2019 and 2024.