The prophecy has been fulfilled and a lifelong servant sent out a winner.
Blackall Magpies coach Jeremy Barron stood at their pre-season sponsors’ function and declared, “this is the team that’s going to bring it home”.
And this weekend they followed through with an 18-12 win over minor premiers Longreach/Ilfracombe Tigers.
Blackall came into the decider off a close win over Barcaldine Sandgoannas the previous weekend, their fifth grand final in a row having won two of those previously.
The day started out with a junior cluster day with teams from Winton, Blackall, Barcaldine and Longreach playing from under 7s to under 13s.
The crowd continued to grow throughout the day in anticipation of an exciting, tough and fast grand final clash. No one left the grounds disappointed over the quality of the game.
The first half was an even contest with both teams showing nerves but strong defence. Neither side conceded until the 20th minute when Blackall went over for the first try. Longreach/Ilfracombe replied soon after to bring the score to 6-6 at the halftime break.
The second half started the same as the opening stanza until Blackall had their numbers cut to 12 due to a sin bin.
It seemed to make the Magpies even more determined and they scored two converted tries in that 10 minutes to take them out to an 18-6 lead.
Longreach/Ilfracombe never stopped trying for their home fans, scoring a converted try with four minutes to go before throwing everything at the Blackall defence to try to level it up, but the Magpies were just too strong.
Blackall’s Alex Choice was named player of the grand final, while referee Peter Robins and touch judges Heather Ballinger – the former Queensland and Jillaroos star – and Malcolm Wright were also recognised for their roles in facilitating the game.
Blackall Magpies coach Jeremy Barron said he always had a feeling this year and couldn’t be happier with the way it all worked out in a tough game.
“The defence from both teams was just brutal,” he said.
“We just kept trying to rotate our forwards to keep that intensity up, which worked quite well for us, and we ran a new lot of forwards on and they just kept going at it, so that really got us set up for the second half.
“The boys just dug deep and it was unreal actually to score two tries in that 10 minutes (for the sin bin).”
Barron was most pleased the team sent prop Gavin Wemyss out a winner for his service to the club.
“We got a war horse there that’s been playing for us for the last 15 years and to get a premiership on his way out was great,” he said.
“He’s Blackall born and bred and he’s a front rower and just keeps trucking up. He’s tough as nails.”
At the other end of the scale, the club has brought through many players to fill that looming gap, with the likes of Declan Hayman – who made his debut at age 17 this year – coming off the bench and kicking a goal in the decider.
Central West Rugby League A grade also handed out their end of season awards after the grand final.
Choice was also one of three players – along with teammate James Moller and Barcaldine’s Zeke Thompson – who finished in a dead heat for Central West Rugby League A grade player of the year, as judged by the clubs.
To complete the strange series of events, the referees’ award for player of the year went to Choice, Thompson and Longreach/Ilfracombe’s Trent Hoad.
Many of the Central West players will now be participating in the Outback Senior Muster this weekend in a bid to earn selection in the Queensland Outback team to take on NSW Outback in Miles next month.
Central region
2023 4BU/HITZ FM Bundaberg Rugby League A Grade Men
Round 10 results
Waves Tigers 26 def Past Brothers 12
Wallaroos 116 def Hervey Bay Seagulls 1
Wests Panthers 42 def Easts Magpies 28
Ladder
2023 Emerald Industrial Supplies Central Highlands Men’s A grade
Round 10 results
Blackwater Crushers 28 def Peak Downs Pirates 18
Emerald Brothers 22 def Springsure Mountain Men 10
Dysart Bulls 40 def Emerald Tigers 34
Middlemount Panthers 38 def Bluff Rabbitohs 22
Ladder
Northern Districts Rugby League 2023 Men’s Premiership
Round 10 results
South Kolan Sharks 52 def Avondale Tigers 6
Isis Devils 50 def Gin Gin Hawks 10
Ladder
2023 Rockhampton Men’s A grade
Round 10 results
Brothers Rockhampton 20 def Norths Chargers 14
Yeppoon Seagulls 30 def Emu Park 28
Ladder
2023 Intersport Yeppoon Rockhampton Women’s A grade
Round 10 results
Wallaby RLFC 46 def Tannum Sands Seagulls 6
Yeppoon Seagulls 14 def Norths Chargers 8
Fitzroy/Gracemere Sharks 16 def Emu Park 6
Ladder
2023 Roma District Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 8 results
Miles Devils 15 def Chinchilla Bulldogs 14
Wallumbilla/Surat Red Bulls 32 def Roma Cities 0
Mitchell Magpies 48 def Taroom-Wandoan Battlers 6
Ladder
Wide Bay Open Women 2023
Round 8 results
Fraser Coast Crushers 24 def Cherbourg Hornets 0
Wondai Proston Wolves 28 def Bundaberg Bears 16
Ladder
2023 Rugby League Gladstone Men’s A grade
Round 7 results
Brothers Gladstone 72 def Wallaby RLFC 0
Tannum Sands Seagulls 28 def Valleys Diehards 26
Ladder
Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 9 results
Beerwah Bulldogs 12 def Kawana Dolphins 6
Maroochydore Swans 30 def Caboolture Snakes 22
Noosa Pirates 18 def Coolum Colts 12
Caloundra Sharks 32 def Nambour Crushers 22
Ladder
Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League Open Women
Round 9 results
Kawana Dolphins 24 def Beerwah Bulldogs 16
Noosa Pirates 76 def Gympie Devils 6
Caloundra Sharks def Nambour Crushers (forfeit)
Ladder
South Burnett Ken Mills Isuzu Men’s A grade
Round 6 results
Cherbourg Hornets 60 def Murgon Mustangs 26
Kingaroy Red Ants 40 def Wondai Proston Wolves 28
Ladder
Toowoomba Rugby League Hutchison Builders Men’s A grade
Round 9 results
Goondiwindi Boars 20 drew with Southern Suburbs 20
Wattles Warriors 46 def Oakey Bears 10
Gatton Hawks 44 def Warwick Cowboys 22
Toowoomba Valleys 28 def Dalby Diehards 26
Highfields Eagles 34 def Toowoomba Brothers 18
Pittsworth Danes 56 def Newtown Lions 12
Ladder
Toowoomba Rugby League Toowoomba Sports Club A Grade Women 2023
Round 9 results
Toowoomba Valleys 22 def Dalby Diehards 12
Ladder
2023 Border Rugby League Men’s A grade
Round 8 results
McIntyre Warriors 32 def Tenterfield Tigers 30
Inglewood Roosters 42 def Eastern Suburbs Hornets 10
Texas Terriers 24 def Stanthorpe Gremlins 22
Ladder
South East region
2023 Brisbane Rugby League Premier A grade
Round 11 results
Beenleigh Pride 22 def West Brisbane Panthers 20
Souths Juniors 42 def Carina Juniors 16
Brighton Roosters 52 def Normanby Hounds 10
Bulimba Bulldogs 28 def Wynnum Manly Juniors 22
Ladder
Rugby League Gold Coast Men’s A grade
Round 7 results
Tugun Seahawks 25 def Currumbin Eagles 4
Southport Tigers 74 def Helensvale Hornets 8
Burleigh Bears 40 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 4
Ladder
Ipswich Jets A Grade Cup
Round 10 results
Brothers Ipswich 32 def Norths Tigers 8
Swifts Bluebirds 22 def Fassifern Bombers 4
Ladder
2023 South East Women’s Holcim Cup
Round 8 results
Nerang Roosters 42 def Wynnum Manly Juniors 4
Goodna Eagles def Valleys Diehards (forfeit)
Beenleigh Pride 22 drew with Currumbin Eagles 22
Ormeau Shearers 26 def Runaway Bay Seagulls 0
Ladder
North region
2023 Northern Peninsula Area Regional Rugby League
Week 2 results
New Mapoon Warriors 20 def Alau Eagles 16
Injinoo Crocs 18 def Bamaga Roos 6
Ladder not available
FNQRL Men’s A grade
Round 10 results
Innisfail Leprechauns 33 def Cairns Kangaroos 12
Edmonton Storm 78 def Southern Suburbs 8
Yarrabah Seahawks 32 def Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 30
Ivanhoes Knights 48 def Mareeba Gladiators 16
Cairns Brothers 32 def Tully Tigers 26
Ladder
2023 FNQRL Open Women’s
Round 8 results
Ivanhoes Knights Maidens def Tully Tigers (forfeit)
Yarrabah Seahawks 44 def Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks 10
Ladder
2023 Rugby League Townsville District Men’s A grade
Round 9 results
Charters Towers Miners 52 def Western Lions 6
Brothers Townsville 38 def Centrals Tigers 16
Souths Bulls 40 def Norths Devils 20
Burdekin Roosters 14 def Herbert River Crushers 10
Ladder
2023 Rugby League Townsville District Women’s A grade
Round 9 results
Western Lions 54 def Charters Towers Miners 0
Burdekin Roosters def Herbert River Crushers (forfeit)
Centrals Tigers 24 def Brothers Townsville 16
Ladder
2023 NQBE Mackay Men’s A grade
Round 8 results
Mackay Magpies 38 def Sarina Crocodiles 18
Mackay Brothers 24 def Moranbah Miners 16
Whitsunday Brahmans 24 def Souths Sharks 4
Carltons Devils 22 def Wests Tigers 18
Ladder
2023 Mackay Airport Women’s A grade
Round 4 results
Mackay Magpies 30 def Sarina Crocodiles 4
Mackay Brothers 30 def Moranbah Miners 10
Carltons Devils def Souths Sharks (forfeit)
Ladder