It was the perfect storm for Newport Storm in its inaugural FV state league season as it claimed the state league 5 west championship on Saturday.
The Storm has been the top side all season and headed into the final round with the championship already sewn up as it led by four points.
The Storm finished the season with a 1-0 win against Ocean Grove on Saturday to put the icing on the cake.
Storm’s Zayed Halloum said it was an amazing achievement for the group.
“I think the celebrations will go on for a little bit during the week,” he said. “It’s very exciting and well deserved by the boys in particular.
“We said at the start of the season, the ambition and goal was to finish right up the top and to be competing for the title.
“It was always there, it was very challenging.”
Halloum said there had been a lot of challenges throughout the season being the team to beat.
He said the vision had always remained and it was a credit to the staff and players for battling through it and putting in the whole season.
Halloum said it was nice knowing that their fate was in their own hands.
The Storm had a bye in the second last round when results went its way to secure the championship.
“Heading into our final two matches, I think it was positive that we didn’t have to rely on other sides,” Halloum said.
“There was pressure on the team, players and staff and they handled it really well.
“They were our most challenging matches of the season.”
While in the end it didn’t have to win the final match, Halloum said they approached the match as if it was like a final.
“Essentially we wanted to go out there and leave everything on the pitch,” he said. “We got the result we were after.
“We were able to win it that way and not rely on anyone. We’ve been able to achieve that throughout the year and achieve the ultimate success across the whole season.”
The Storm will stay in state league 5 next season as part of a competition restructure.
It will become state league 5 north-west with the teams from this year’s state league 4 north and west competitions and the top two teams from state league 5 north and west this season.
Halloum said they were ready for the next challenge.
He said growing the whole club was a focus for next season as they look to further grow and provide a home for players in Newport.
“This is historic, winning a title in our first year of state league,” he said. “It’s a massive achievement for the club and it’s only the beginning.
“We want to focus a lot of effort on the junior ranks and get that pathway for them. This is really exciting for us.”
