So after scraping into the 2013 decider there was a sense that, that grand final, like that other haunted drama Macbeth, should not be spoken of.

A see-sawing first half at the Conolly Rugby Complex did little to ease the anxiety but a rollicking half-time burst from Dave Stuart did the trick. In a twinkling it was 41-0, a consolation to the Tahs just that.

The celebrations started long before the final whistle and a series of losses in the game that mattered were buried, at least for now.

FLY-HALF Richard Manion, was given the Bill Castle Medal for the best in the competition.

A product of St Ignatius College in Sydney, home to a host of Wallabies for more than a century, Manion also represented NSW Country, played three seasons for Eastwood in Sydney and second division rugby at Hertfordshire in England.

“It’s a great honour to get the medal but it really is a team effort. I can only play well when I get the support of the team and that has been there all year and made me look good.”

It was a typically unassuming statement from the No.10 who terrorised oppositions with his running and passing, not to mention his fiancee when he suffered a centimetre scar above his eye in the clash with Wagga City, just months before the wedding.

AFTER almost a decade in the rugby wilderness the rugby women were back at Murrayfield.

After a win in the first round, the squad hit a hurdle with a loss to a big Griffith side and a return bus trip that saw them hit a kangaroo and be pulled up twice by the police.

They battled all year and while missing finals were still talking up next year.

One of the squad, now based in North Queensland, Alisha Hewett was named in the Wallaroos World Cup squad for next year.

THE Welsh carpenter arrived on the Border in mid May. About six weeks later, five rounds of rugby and a call up to representative duty he had racked up more than 130 points.

The 22-year-old came to Australia after playing in what is effectively second division in the Welsh leagues at his home club Bridgend Athletic.

Teams who kicked to the Welsh wizard saw the ball come back with interest, his running and ability to shrug tackles seemingly effortless.

The fullback was also more than handy with the boot. On a cold afternoon in June we tested his ability — 10 kicks from the halfway. Nine sailed between the posts.

THE Steamers averaged more than 60 points a game, barely conceded a try.

Few involved in Southern Riverina rugby circles could remember a more dominant display.

They were ruthless with sides dreaming of finals, dismissive of those that didn’t measure up.

And with each week came the call that the job wasn’t done, that it was a long season.

The reality was that no one even came close.

THEY say rugby is an international game and the Steamers were a grand example.

The front row alone included a Welshman — Scott Meakins, Frenchman — Jean-Laurent Pozzobon (pictured) and Maori — James Kora.

“When you are sucking in the big ones I don’t think we understand each other at all,” Kora said.

“But as a unit we work as one.”

There were also Kiwis, Poms, Fijians and other islanders as part of a squad in first and second grade. There were accountants and factory workers, vets and uni students.

THE pain of the one-point loss a year before was the catalyst to several veteran Steamers deferring their retirement.

Captain Nathan Bright, James Kora, Dan Hogg and Scott Hannaford all returned for one last crack at the Holy Grail.

But in the bid to shore up the depth in the backline so too did Justin Wheatley and his former Steamer and Eastwood team-mate Mick Alexander, pictured with Vida and Asha, after five years on the sidelines. All now say that is it, done.

A SURPRISE party and recognition of the Steamer’s founding father John Sykes was one of the highlights of the year.

The agronomist was lured to Murrayfield on the pretence of a last home-game lunch, only to have the club reveal its plans to name a pavilion after him.

“They got me there with food and then unveiled a plaque,” Mr Sykes said yesterday.

“I just had to ‘umh’ and ‘aah’ my way through some sort of half-baked speech.

“But I’m very proud, very humbled by what happened there on Saturday.”

Mr Sykes along with Geoff Cox were the brains trust behind the first Steamers — their newspaper advertisement in 1976 calling for “Men of fitness and finesse”.

THERE are cult figures and then there are people like House Kora.

The giant Kiwi prop says he has played his last game but it is hard to imagine House can walk away from a club where he has become part of the furniture.

A refugee of the Christchurch earthquake came to the Border looking for a game of rugby.

Among the highlights of the year were the calls from the crowd for House to take a penalty about 10-metres out from the line against Ag College on a chilly Saturday afternoon in mid July.

PART of the story at the Steamers this year was the arrival of the Welshmen.

In April 20-year-old loosehead prop, Scott Meakins was the first to land on our shores.

Not long after that came point scoring machine James Olds.

While we have already talked up the impact of the running fullback it was Meakins who came to the fore when his prop partner House Kora was injured and again in the grand final.

But in the off season all three have headed to Canberra and the chance to play and train with Wallabies and Brumbies with Uni-Norths in Canberra’s premier division.