Western Suburbs will be looking to send out retiring captain Mark Taufua on a winning note next weekend after the Rosellas cruised through to the Newcastle Rugby League grand final.
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The 38-year-old played his last game at home ground Harker Oval on Sunday afternoon, helping Wests topple Central 50-10 in the major semi-final and book a place in the September 22 decider.
Taufua, who made 88 NRL appearances and represented Samoa during his professional career, joined the Rosellas in 2014 and skippered them to premiership success that same season.
It was the last major title for Wests, having lost the 2017 showdown.
"We want to erase the memories of 17 and hopefully replace them with a premiership in 19," Rosellas coach Matt Lantry, who will join Maitland in 2020, said.
"To send Mark [Taufua] out as a winner is what he deserves for his contribution to the club over a five-year period."
The front-rower started from the bench but was on the field at full-time and after the final siren even had a conversion attempt, albeit waved away.
"That's his last game on Harker Oval so it was good to be able to get him back out there for the last 10 minutes," Lantry said.
"The boys rewarded him with a shot, which was a nice touch. He reckons it just shaved the posts after the breeze got hold of it."
Emotion and farewell aside, minor premiers Wests were at their dominating best across the entire 80 minutes.
Central opened the scoring in each half, enjoyed some good moments and never gave up but the Rosellas constantly had bodies in motion, were well organised and also strong in defence.
Wests halfback Luke Walsh orchestrated the whole affair.
The hosts led 22-4 at half-time, which included four tries in the space of 19, and crossed for a further five in the second stanza.
Second-rower Pat Mata'utia and fullback Chad O'Donnell both landed doubles for the Rosellas.
"We pride ourselves on our defence and while it's nice to see the scoreboard ticking over, you look at two of the previous semi-finals played and those results, to keep our opposition to 10 was probably the most pleasing thing," Lantry said.
Central had been unbeaten in seven previous starts, since going down 61-0 to Wests on July 14, and now meet Cessnock in Sunday's preliminary final at St John Oval.
"It's going to be how we rebound from it and how we go with injuries," Central coach Phil Williams said.
Butcher Boys pair Mitch Williams (ribs) and Luke Harragon (knee) are both in doubt.
WESTERN SUBURBS 50 (Pat Mata'utia 2, Chad O'Donnell 2, Ryan Walker, Alex Langbridge, Ryan Walsh, Matt Herman, AlLantry tries; Luke Walsh 6, Ryan Walsh conversions) defeated CENTRAL NEWCASTLE 10 (Thomas Madden, Vitale Roqica tries; Brad Murray conversion)
