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[ 21 September - 4 October 2024 ]
FREE COMMUNITY PAPER Distributed In The Kiama LGA
Gerringong Lions go back-to-back
Lleyton Hughes
A
lmost exactly one year after they defeated the Shellharbour Sharks in the 2023 Group 7 grand final, the Gerringong Lions have done it again. On September 15, the Lions became back-to-back premiers when they defeated the Shellharbour Sharks 28-10 in the 2024 first grade Group 7 grand final. Gerringong were first to score early in the match when hooker Nathan Ford, who was playing in his 250th game, put second rower Corey Mulhall over for a try. Shellharbour managed to strike back a few moments later with a near mirror image play on the opposite side of the field when hooker Brody Rigg put veteran centre Ryan James over to make the scores level at 4-4. It seemed Shellharbour were destined to take the lead with a few repeat sets, but Gerringong’s defence was too strong. In the 20th minute Gerringong went over for their second try of the day when a wayward pass from lock Jake Taylor was picked up by Toby Gum-
Rixon Russell (L) and Nathan Ford holding the premiership trophy. (Source: Gameface Photography)
ley-Quine who ran away untouched over the tryline. Taylor converted to make the score 10-4. Quickly after, young fullback Wes Pring broke through the line and was caught with a swinging arm by Shellharbour’s Ryan James who was sent to the bin for ten minutes as a result. Gerringong opted for a penalty goal, which Taylor converted, to make it 12-4. Just before half time Gerringong crossed again through Jordan Chandler who took advantage of a rebounded kick.
Gerringong led 16-4 at half time. Shellharbour had to be first to score and, off the back of an offload, Kade Sampson managed to draw the last man and put Nicholas Hay over to get the Sharks back into the game and make it 16-10. Not long after that though, Gerringong were back on the board with a beautiful try off the back of a kick that led to Rixon Russell diving under the sticks to make it 22-10. In the 65th minute the Lions sealed the game with some in-
dividual brilliance from Gumley-Quine that brought the score to 28-10 which was what it remained until the final hooter sounded. Lions coach Scott Stewart says that his team played the best footy they’d played all year in their two finals series matches. “They played tough, our last two games were probably the best two games we’ve played this year which is what you want at this time of year. They played tough and after handling what Shellharbour threw
at us, we had the skill to get over the top of them,” says Stewart. The Lions have been in every single first grade grand final since 2020 (there wasn’t a grand final in 2021 due to COVID) and have only lost one of those four. Stewart attributes the healthy balance of experienced and young players in his side to their success as well as the fact that every player in their squad is a Gerringong junior. “We’ve got a really good core group of experienced play-
ers who set the standard, and have done since 2010, and we’re lucky enough with such a great junior league club that all those kids want to play for Gerringong, keep stepping up and they love it,” says Stewart. “All 17 blokes that played on the weekend have come through our junior league. The kids know who everyone is because they’re cousins and brothers or they just know them. If you go to our home games, it is filled with kids watching and that’s what you want. They see first grade and that’s where they want to be so they push themselves to get to that level.” Gerringong captain Nathan Ford was awarded player of the match and this win makes it seven Group 7 premierships in total for him. The Lions’ reserve grade team also went back to back, defeating Shellharbour 17-16, making Gerringong Lions the second club, the other being Albion Park in 1998 and 1999, in Group 7 history to win back to back premierships in the top two grades. Congratulations Gerringong!