By Bailey Whitton
The Western Suburbs Devils have claimed their second successive Harrigan Cup, snatching a 14-8 extra time victory over Minor Premiers Collegians on Saturday at WIN Stadium.
Collegians went into the Grand Final having won all but two matches in the regular season to end on top of the ladder, but the Devils came off beating them just two weeks earlier in the Major Semi-final, holding Collegians scoreless.
Neither team wanted to budge, and it was apparent from the kick off. Both sides frantically tried to get on the front foot, but overplayed their hand and struggled to control the ball.
Devils settled their attack first, sending players through Collegians’ defence in back-to back line-breaks, with Tepai Moeroa swatting away Collegians defenders like flies.
The Devils then ramped up the pressure, staying on the offensive and quickly bouncing back into Collegians territory when they were pushed back.
It was 20 minutes into the game when halfback Dane Chisholm broke Collegians first, dancing around players and making a mess of their defensive line before sliding a grubber for Joseph Dickson, who dived over with ease for a 6-0 lead.
Collegians turned up the heat in response, rattling the Devils with each tackle, but unable to get them to flinch.
Moeroa and Dane Chisholm continued to terrorise Collegians creating opportunities to increase their lead, but the Collegians defence held on.
In the 35th minute the Devils received a penalty in front, and they took the two points to not walk away empty handed for an 8-0 lead.
Collegians didn’t want to leave the half there and started running harder as the clock ticked down, breaking through the defence with every tackle and taking multiple players to bring them to ground.
They slipped a grubber through broken play hoping for the try, but the Devils slapped it out in desperation to end the half.
Collegians were taking no prisoners in the second half as they kept applying pressure with repeat sets and strong field position.
The Devils were growing tired as the match continued, barely able to counter-attack but still refusing to let Collegians over the line.
In the 69th minute Collegians finally got on the board through Nic Hall, successfully contesting a bomb and running it in to score, making it a two-point game.
Collegians continued to throw everything they had at the Devils, with Nic Hall and Callum Gromek both creating opportunities for points through breaks down the right edge, but were shut down.
The game looked finished with Collegians left with no tricks in the middle of the field, but a stray arm from the Devils gave them a penalty from 40 metres out. They took the shot and tied the game, sending it to extra time at 8-8.
The two teams were careful not to make an error in extra time, but the Devils wouldn’t be stopped. The pushed Collegians back enough to be within field goal range, but instead shifted left to Chisholm, who pushed through an attempted tackle and scored a try of his own, setting up a 14-8 lead.
With 30 seconds left in the first half of extra time, Chisholm sent another warning shot to Collegians, almost getting away for a second but was stopped.
In the second half of extra time Collegians came out strong trying to tie it up yet again, but were unable to make the metres and threaten the goal.
Collegians kept pushing and eventually a chip from Zach Herring got them a full set in the Devils’ half. Collegians set up to try and score by throwing everything they had left at Western Suburbs, but the Devils swarmed and forced the ball free for the win and the Harrigan Cup.
Full-time: Western Suburbs Devils 14 (Dickson, Chisholm tries; Baldock 3 goals) Collegians 8 (Hall try; Gromek, Grant goals).
