St Marys Saints have put the disappointment of last year’s Preliminary Final exit well and truly behind them after scoring a convincing 34-22 win over Wenty Magpies in the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval today.
In a match that had plenty of emotion with both teams having a player sent off and also sin binned, Saints overcame the adversity to claim their second premiership in three years.
Halfback Zac Greene, who was awarded the Paul Griffin Medal for Player of the Match after scoring a try in the final 10 minutes to help seal the victory when his team was reduced to 11 men, said the result had been a year in the making just missing the decider in 2024.
“The words you could use to describe that, I don’t even know, it’s amazing,” Greene said.
“I love this bunch of boys. We work so hard. We get into November, and we put in the hard work, and this is what it is all for.
“Last year was such a disappointment, we didn’t get a chance to showcase ourselves. But we peaked at the right time this year and it’s so good.”
It was a beautiful afternoon for footy at Leichhardt Oval with premiership favourites St Marys bounding out of the gates with four-tries-to-one in a dominant first half display against the Magpies.
At half-time the Saints had one hand on the trophy with a 22-6 lead. There was plenty of emotion in the second half but Saints proved too strong to hang on for the win.
Saints started the match strongly, with winger Christian Crichton picking up the first points of the afternoon. A big right arm fend saw him beat several defenders to cross the line in the corner for a 4-0 lead.
The Magpies answered back almost immediately through fullback Josh Bergamin. A dummy and go caught the St Marys defence flat footed with Bergamin finding a gap through the broken defensive line to cross over. Dylan White converted from in front of the posts to give the Magpies a 6-4 lead.
St Marys regained their lead through the experienced Bryce Cartwright. With the Magpies’ defence focused on a decoy runner, Cartwright strolled through the gap to score in the 22nd minute. A successful conversion by Greene saw the Saints back in the lead 10-6.
Saints found their rhythm with a try in the 28th minute to rampaging second-rower Steve Tavita. Zig-zagging his way through to open space, he scored underneath the posts to extend the Saints’ lead. Greene added the extras to make it 16-6.
With less than seven minutes remaining in the first half, centre Michael Jennings found the line. A stunning break up the field from St Marys interchange Connor Mason had the Saints back in their half of the field. A chip across to the left from five-eighth Anthony Layoun led to a Magpies mistake with Jennings pouncing on the loose ball in the in-goal. Greene converted the try as they entered half-time 22-6.
After Magpies interchange Shalom O’ofou was sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on Greene, Crichton crossed the line for his second try in the decider. Greene added the extras taking the score to 28-6 only 10 minutes into the second half.
Fishing around the opposition’s try-line, the Magpies found the line for a second time. Looking for opportunities and passing up and down the line, second-rower Chris Tupou found himself out on the wing before scoring in the corner. A successful conversion gave the Magpies a little bit of hope at 28-12.
A scuffle in the middle of the field saw Magpies five-eighth Raymond Maroun and Saints hooker Brad Keighran sent off with 20 minutes remaining.
A high tackle on Magpies captain Blake Cook in the 71st minute saw Layoun sent to the sin bin, leaving St Marys with 11 men for the rest of the decider.
“I just back the boys, we work so hard,” Greene said. “We could have eight on the field and we’d scramble; we would save tries. That is just what we do. We do it every week. We did it.”
With two men off the field, St Marys produced a stunning try to secure the title in their 2025 season campaign. A strong break by Cartwright was backed up by Greene who crossed the line with only seven minutes left. He converted for a 34-12 lead.
The Magpies grabbed two consolation tries at the end, but the damage had been done earlier in the match with the Saints celebrating at the full-time siren
“We sort of knew if we could execute our game, it was our game to win,” Greene said.
“It was a rough old start there, so tough. We got a few quick ones, and we put it to bed.”
Full-time: St Marys Saints 34 (Crichton 2, Cartwright, Tavita, Greene tries; Greene 5 goals) Wentworthville Magpies 22 (Bergamin, Tupou, Quast, Newlands tries; White 3 goals).
