Macarthur Wests Tigers coach Adam Whitelaw had challenged his players this season to create history and become the first team from the region to claim the Andrew Johns Cup, and they answered the call in style today after beating Newcastle Maitland Region Knights 26-16 in the Grand Final at Port Macquarie Regional Sports Stadium.
The Tigers recovered from a shaky start, after the Knights scored a try in the opening minute, to score four unanswered tries and take control of the decider. It was the region’s first title and made up for the disappointment of their last appearance in 2024 when they lost to Central Coast Roosters, with back-rower Bryce Blatch a deserved Player of the Match.
“This is big,” Whitelaw said.
“Our mantra at the start of the year was create history. No team in Macarthur has won the comp and we’ve done it today so our name’s in the history books forever.
“All the hard work these kids have put in. We knew we had something special from the start and we delivered today. I’m so proud of these kids.”
Adding to the occasion today was the fact the Knights, from the Northern Pool, and the Tigers, from the Southern Pool, had gone through the regular season unbeaten and were meeting for the first time at Port Macquarie.
The Knights got off to a flying start when a kick from five-eighth Koby Skuthorpe was allowed to bounce by the Tigers. Newcastle winger Izaac Barber batted the ball up before regathering and passing back infield to centre Noah Blundell, who in turn found Skuthorpe in support to race away and score in the opening minute. Fullback Harlem Blair converted for a 6-0 lead.
The match then turned into a genuine arm wrestle as both teams looked for the ascendency, but defence was winning the day. The Knights came close again through winger Terrence Smith but the last pass went to ground. Another chance late in the first half to Knights winger Barber also came up short after the defence arrived in time to bundle him into touch.
“We knew they were going to come, we knew they were a tough opposition,” Whitelaw said.
“They’ve been the benchmark all year and pretty much what we’ve done on the other side of the draw. They didn’t give up either and kept coming. Great effort by them and hats off to Newcastle and their staff.”
The Tigers finally found their groove and came close to scoring on the back of a bullocking run from Blatch only to be denied by some determined goal-line defence. The Tigers received another opportunity after the Knights failed to clean up a kick from halfback Masen Mallia and they were quick to capitalise.
Centre Zedric Vaiau did well to pop a pass after a strong charge, and replacement Adam El Masri did even better to catch the pass behind him before releasing winger Lucas Bentham down the sideline to score. Mallia landed the sideline conversion to lock the scores up at 6-all.
The Tigers received another opportunity after Knights fullback Harlem Blair spilled a bomb and they soon turned that into points after El Masri burrowed his way over from dummy-half to score next to the posts. Mallia converted to send his team into the half-time break with a 12-6 lead.
The Tigers went further in front when play resumed after Blatch proved too strong for the goal line defence and scored a well-deserved try. Mallia converted and then added a penalty goal a short time later to give the Tigers a handy 20-6 lead.
Any hopes the Knights had of a fightback faded further after a powerful charge from prop Alex Mau paved the way for replacement Hamish Butler to crash over the line on the next play. Mallia continued his flawless display with the boot to extend the lead to 26-6.
The Knights never gave up and scored two tries at the end – including a spectacular chip and chase from Barber down the touchline – but the damage had been done either side of half-time by the Tigers as they celebrated a 26-16 win.
