Cover Photo: Harden Hawks Facebook
Tallon Smith
Harden Hawks coach Nick Hall believes his team deserves to be in the Clayton Cup conversation after finishing the season as the only undefeated first XIII side in New South Wales.
The Hawks downed North Canberra 20-6 in the George Tooke Shield grand final played at McLean Oval on Saturday, finishing the season with a perfect 16-0 record through the regular season and the finals in the Canberra Region’s second division competition.
While he said there are no doubt stronger clubs in other competitions, he believes the club should be in contention for the honour given their impeccable record this season.
“I’m really proud of what we did this year, undefeated in a good standard of footy, and to be truthful the Harden Hawks won two grades undefeated, men’s and women’s, so that’s a pretty rare thing,” he said.
“I don’t know if that means we’re the best team in New South Wales, I wouldn’t even argue that, but I think we’re the best-performed team, and I think that’s arguable.
“I’d like to have a good conversation with people about it, it would be a good feather in our cap, and we’ve gone the whole season undefeated, I think we’re worthy of a discussion.
“Sometimes there’s been some smaller competitions that maybe have lost some strength in previous years where the Clayton Cup may have gravitated in those directions maybe because of the strength of those competitions.
“You can argue the strength of all the competitions, it’s rarer for those big Sydney and South Coast sides to win, because those competitions are so competitive, but I think if you look at our competition and something like the Woodbridge Cup, I think the standard is definitely coming up in those competitions.”
The Hawks led from start to finish in Saturday’s decider against the Bears, with an error off a high ball providing Jarrod Sharman the opportunity to open the scoring, before Drew Arabin extended the home side’s lead to 10-0 at the 20-minute mark.
Lachlan Tindale hit back for North Canberra to close the gap to four points soon after, but that margin lasted only four minutes, with another error off a kick providing Kyle Sharp a gift-wrapped try to give the Hawks a 14-6 lead at the break.
Only one try was scored after the interval in a physical second half, and yet again it was an error at the back off a kick creating an opportunity for Sharp to complete his double and seal a 14-point victory for the home side.
After falling to Bungendore on the final day in each of the past two seasons, Hall was simply happy to have finally won the title, but said the undefeated record made it even more special.
“Let’s start with just winning a premiership, it’s great and I think the boys have deserved it, and the crew we’ve had here pretty solidly for five years, and some of the guys that have been here longer, they’ve been working towards that,” he said.
“It’s nice to get rewards, because you don’t always get them in life or footy.
“Winning it undefeated, that’s super satisfying, because it is a pretty good comp, and the top five sides I think are tough, all could have won it, [and] top three sides were fit and hard and really educated defences this year.
“We had a lot of mistakes in us like any other side, like we’ll miss a tackle, we’ll drop a ball, but we compete really bloody hard and I’m proud of them doing that, so I think the Hawks have been great like that this year.
“We’re really proud of the undefeated [record].”
Earlier in the day, Harden completed the first part of its premiership double with the club’s women’s team winning a remarkable fourth-straight title with an 18-0 victory also over North Canberra.
Both Georgia and Clare Smith crossed for tries alongside Taylah Wilson, while Emma James kicked three goals as the side kept a clean sheet in defence in front of their home fans.
Hall said the Hawkettes’ run has been a source of pride for the entire club, and he was happy that the men’s team’s success meant they were finally able play in and win a grand final on home turf.
“We’re super proud of that, the girls are a strong side and we’ve always celebrated them in the last four or five years, the boys,” he said.
“We’re so proud of the girls, how dominant they have been.
“For us to hold our own in the boys this year and actually earn the home grand final and actually support them and win the game, [it’s] tremendous.
“Two undefeated premierships, you don’t see that too often.”
HARDEN 20 (Kyle Sharp 2, Jarrod Sharman, Drew Arabin tries; 2 goals) DEFEATED NORTH CANBERRA 6 (Lachlan Tindale try; Adam Booth goal) at McLean Oval, Saturday September 12.
Group 3: Wingham downs Port Macquarie in thriller to break title drought
Wingham has ended a 23-year Group 3 premiership drought after downing the Port Macquarie Sharks 17-16 in a thrilling grand final at the Wingham Tigers Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A field goal to halfback Tristian Wright-Scott proved the difference after both sides crossed for three tries and added two goals over the course of the match.
Wingham’s last Group 3 title came in 2003, when it defeated Forster-Tuncurry 30-20 to go back-to-back after beating Taree City 30-26 the previous year.
NRRRL: Casino ends 36-year drought
Casino ended a 36-year premiership drought and won its first Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League title after downing Murwillumbah 26-14 in the grand final in Murwillumbah on Sunday.
The Cougars opened up a 22-0 lead through the opening 33 minutes of the contest through a double to Thomas McGrady and tries to Grant Byers and Gairo Kapana, maintaining their lead from there to claim a 26-14 victory.
The win is the club’s first triumph since it defeated Kyogle in the 1990 Group 1 decider.
Newcastle & Hunter Rugby League: Cheetahs complete three-peat
The Waratah-Mayfield Cheetahs completed a hat-trick of titles with a 30-0 win over the Cardiff Cobras in the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League grand final at the Lakeside Sporting Complex in Raymond Terrace on Saturday.
The results marks a 60-point turnaround from the major semi final, where the Cobras defeated the Cheetahs 36-6.
The six tries to three victory adds to triumphs over Dudley last year and Raymond Terrace in 2024.
