Jamie Parsons

Ivanhoe Roosters have ended the preliminary final week with two more grand final appearances for their mens and womens teams, adding to their several appearances in the big one in the last few years.

Ivanhoe Hens have made a fourth straight Grand Final, appearing in every decider since 2023 though losing out to the Barellan Rams each time.

Ivanhoe mens side has made a fourth Grand Final in the past five years, finishing runners-up to Narrandera in 2022 & 2023 and to Barellan last season.

In the women’s game the Rankins Springs Dragons reached their second Grand Final and first since the inaugural womens year of 2021 by defeating the team that beat them in that year’s decider, the Goolgowi Rabbitohs.

In a game dominated by the Dragons’ defence, Goolgowi barely saw the inside of Rankins Springs’ half and a try to Tash Tuckett had the Springs up 6-0 at halftime.

The second half was a similar story and despite Goolgowi fielding a full side of 16 players against Rankins Springs’ 11, the Dragons enjoyed the greater field position and a converted try to Edwige Tamata was followed by Tuckett scoring her second off a backline move, Rankins Springs winning the preliminary final 16-0.

Goolgowi now bows out of the 2026 season after a much improved showing with several new players putting up their hands, after missing out in 2024 and making 4th spot in 2025 only to forfeit the finals due to a lack of fit players.

Rankins Springs has continued their run up the ladder, improving each year after a wooden spoon in 2023 with a minor semi appearance in 2024 and a prelim final appearance last season.

Their success comes on the back of a core group of players sticking together since the 2022 season.

The Barellan Rams continued the story of their season with only three players on their interchange bench for the preliminary final.

Ivanhoe took the advantage early scoring twice in the first ten minutes to have them up 8-0, Barellan then resisting until not long before halftime where two more tries took the Roosters to an 18-0 halftime advantage.

An unfortunate incident to Barellan player Reece Wilson saw the ambulance brought on to the field, but later reports indicated he is now doing okay.

The Rams showed a lot of pride in the jersey in the second half, finishing with no players left on the bench after both Tom Bartter and Lucas Irvin were brought from the field with injuries, Ivanhoe scoring two more tries with the last one a long range effort by new signing Josh Charles to set up fullback Lochyer Brennan bringing the final score to 30-0.

Preliminary Final Results

Women’s Preliminary Final

Rankins Springs 16 (Tash Tuckett 2, Edwige Tamata tries; Natalie Gibbs 1, Tash Tuckett 1 goals) defeated Goolgowi 0.

Men’s Preliminary Final

Ivanhoe 30 (Owen Whyman, Anthony Jones, Thomas Lee, Lochyer Brennan, Clinton Hall, Shaun Aylett tries; Tarelle Jones 2, Owen Whyman 1 goals) defeated Barellan 0.

Grand Final Previews

Ivanhoe will host their second Proten Cup Grand Final day after 2019, and for the first time will feature both their sides playing at home on grand final day.

The Goolgowi men’s team will return to the field of their only previous Proten Cup triumph, when they defeated Narrandera 22-6 on the Sahara in 2019.

Women’s Grand Final – Ivanhoe v Rankins Springs

Third time wasn’t the charm for Ivanhoe last year, so maybe fourth time will be now that they get to play on home soil.

The major semi was a very tough contest with the Hens just getting the win 4-0, so it certainly won’t be all smooth sailing for them against the Dragons.

The women’s competition has been largely low-scoring all season, so no doubt it will be defence that decides this one. Rankins Springs has only lost two games all year, both against Ivanhoe and both only by four points.

They will be hoping to replicate their men’s side who have upset undefeated sides in grand finals twice in the Proten Cup era, though no side has been able to do it in the women’s competition yet.

Best of luck to both teams and here’s hoping for another great women’s Grand Final.

Previous Grand Finals:

2021 – Goolgowi 20-6 Rankins Springs

2022 – Narrandera 16-0 Goolgowi

2023 – Barellan 16-14 Ivanhoe

2024 – Barellan 26-6 Ivanhoe

2025 – Barellan 26-2 Ivanhoe

Men’s Grand Final – Goolgowi v Ivanhoe

The Rabbitohs have no doubt been the pick of the men’s sides this season, losing only the one game to Barellan at Barellan by four points.

They saw off Rankins Springs twice, dooming the Dragons to a 5th placed finish so they didn’t have to deal with them in the finals, and have beaten the Roosters twice during the season including the major semi, though both were on Goolgowi’s home turf.

Ivanhoe celebrate their 50th anniversary of their only Group 17 premiership, the 1976 reserve grade grand final against Goolgowi.

The two have never faced each other in a first grade grand final.

Ivanhoe has now made twice as many grand finals in the Proten Cup era as they did in nearly 50 years of first grade Group 17 footy.

The two meetings between the sides this year saw a 26-20 Goolgowi win in Round 2 and then a big 28-4 victory to the Rabbitohs again two weeks ago.

Goolgowi halfback Henry Taylor will be the biggest hope for the club, having his standout season in his sixth year at Goolgowi, along with co-coach Tom Condon who doubles as just about both the hardest runner and hardest tackler in the competition.

Ivanhoe have many big guns who can turn a game including fullback Lochyer Brennan who is both safe under the high ball and excellent at scoring tries, and centre Josh Charles in his first year at the Roosters who can break tackles like no one else.

Above all the Roosters will be hoping to do it for club legend Mark Huntly, one of the most committed administrators and players since the beginning of the competition who is adamant on retiring this year, despite many false declarations in previous years.

It will be sure to be a fiery match with the Rabbitohs’ skill and the Roosters’ passion so make sure to get to Sahara Oval on Saturday for another day of fantastic rugby league!

Previous Grand Finals:

2018 – Rankins Springs 16-10 Goolgowi

2019 – Goolgowi 22-6 Narrandera

2021 – Rankins Springs 10-8 Goolgowi

2022 – Narrandera 20-14 Ivanhoe

2023 – Narrandera 20-14 Ivanhoe

2024 – Rankins Springs 20-18 Narrandera

2025 – Barellan 22-20 Ivanhoe