THE comeback kids have struck again.
Indefatigable Altona Roosters returned from a perilous position to steal the Victorian Rugby League first grade premiership from under the noses of a snoozing Sunbury United Tigers.
The Roosters were in a deep hole in Sunday’s grand final at Fregon Reserve, trailing 18-6 at half-time and almost powerless to stop the pre-game favourite Tigers asserting their dominance.
You only have to go back seven days to know how flimsy a 12-point margin can be against these never-say-die Roosters.
An ecstatic Roosters president Brandon Taunoa told the Weekly his side believed it could win from any position after coming back from a 20-point deficit to beat North West Wolves in an incredible preliminary final and scoring comeback victories in the previous two games.
“There was no panic. We thought if we can play 80 minutes that we were still in it. That’s what we did.”
The Tigers were first to claw at the tryline with Josh Cocker-Valu giving the minor premiers the lead. Natel Tuia doubled it minutes later when he pierced the nervous Roosters’ defence.
The Roosters finally got a settling through centre Peter Williamson.
Two further tries to Hershel Gideon and Thomas Shearman and the Tigers were roaring with an 18-6 lead at half-time.
The Roosters’ dressing shed was calm at the break. Half-back and co-coach Mike Hurinui implored his players not to give up hope and to stay focused on the task.
The Roosters got the breakthrough they wanted shortly after the resumption when Teariki Bennion made a breathtaking 30-metre dash to the line.
Hurinui forced the ball loose in a one-on-one tackle, scooped up the ball and there was no stopping the veteran en route to the tryline.
The Tigers were in a state of shock. Scores were level at 18-all as their lead evaporated into thin air.
And it got worse when star Bradley Potae crossed to put the Roosters in front and Hurinui slotted the conversion to make it 24-18.
The see-saw nature of the game offered hope for the Tigers and they found a way through the Roosters’ defence through try-scorer Zach Moi Moi.
Tuia had a chance to get the Tigers back level but missed the crucial conversion. The Roosters buffered up their lead with a Hurinui field goal and held on for dear life in the dying minutes to clinch their eighth senior premiership and seventh title in 10 years.
This was one of the gutsier victories because of the heavy turnover of personnel at the start of the year, the larger emphasis on youth and the way they snuck into the finals and took the long road to the big one. “Considering where we came from, this is unreal,” Taonoa said. “We lost our first four games at the start of the year and nearly missed the finals. To be the underdogs and come from behind the last three weeks in the finals is an awesome feeling.”
Roosters forward Aiden Hema was named player of the match for his outstanding defence. The halves combination of Hurinui and Warr were important in marshalling the troops.
Grand final
First grade: Sunbury United Tigers 22 lt Altona Roosters 25
