MACQUARIE Scorpions have defied the pundits to score a comprehensive 24-6 win over Western Suburbs to claim their first Newcastle Rugby League premiership since 1991.
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Macquarie trailed 6-4 at halftime, but dominated the second half to run in three unanswered tries at McDonald Jones Stadium.
In the first half, Wests made several line breaks which threatened to lead to points.
But Macquarie players continued to turn up, and shut down the danger.
And if Wests seemed frustrated by the Scorpions’ scrambling defence in the first stanza, they seemed to wilt in the warm weather and under the relentless defensive heat applied by Macquarie in the second.
The Real NRL’s player of the year, Ryan Walker, created the opening try for Wests after 30 minutes when he slipped a ball to Ryan Stone who barged over close to the uprights.
Macquarie hit back three minutes later when Scott Briggs and Nathan Cantor combined to send Nathan Hinton over in the corner.
From the kick-off to start the second half, Wests allowed the ball to bounce dead.
Macquarie scored within six tackles of the ensuing drop-out when Andrew Sumner accepted a deft pass from Isaac Briggs close to the line.
Sumner was in the action again 10 minutes later, slicing through the defence to send Mitch Manson in to score.
With just three minutes remaining, Randall Briggs took an intercept and ran 60 metres to score, sparking wild celebrations.
In his last game of rugby league, former Newcastle Knight Daniel Abraham booted the conversion.
The win completed an impressive trifecta for the Scorpions who also won the Mudgee nines tournament, and the inaugural NSW Challenge Cup this season.
“This has been a wonderful year for the club and the community,” Macquarie coach Adam Bettridge said.
“To achieve these results is testament to the commitment and skill of the players. I could not fault any player in the club. They were great the whole year and every time we had to bring a player into the first grade squad to cover an injury, they responded and went to a higher level.”
Bettridge said the club was in good shape, underpinned by a strong juniors program.
“We had 12 junior players in the Scorpions’ squad, which the club is extremely proud of,” he said.
“I was also so happy to see Daniel Abraham finish his career as a winner on McDonald Jones Stadium.”
