ALBURY Thunder completed a remarkable rags to riches story when it claimed its first Group 9 rugby league premiership with a 36-26 victory against Southcity at Wagga’s Equex Centre yesterday.
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Only five years after being the whipping boys of the competition, Josh Cale’s team officially put the code on the map on the Border by breaking a 20-year drought in front of hundreds of diehard supporters.
Club president Rick O’Connell was almost lost for words as players and officials were swamped on the ground moments after the win.
“It’s utter relief,” O’Connell said.
“There were stages today when we were a little concerned and it’s just fantastic to get there.
“It probably wasn’t the
greatest game, but it doesn’t matter now does it.
“A lot of people have put in a lot of work over the years and this is reward for all of them.
“It’s incredible.”
The rise of the club from whipping boys to league heavyweights was rammed home earlier in the day when favourite son Craig Blackhall’s reserves defeated Gundagai 20-18 to clinch the double.
O’Connell believes the spin-offs will be enormous in AFL heartland.
“It’s a real boost and a shot in the arm,” he said.
“Kids will now talk about their heroes who played on this particular day and probably in the future there will be more
juniors who will aspire to play first grade.
“That’s what you want; the plan was for this to happen, but they are a lot harder to win than just planning for them.”
Played out in front of a crowd that paid $32,550 at the gate, the Thunder looked in dire trouble at the 52-minute mark when reigning premier Southcity snatched the lead for the first time.
But two quick tries from stalwart Ben Ryan gave Albury back a lead and, when Tom Gemmell crashed over the line with only minutes left on the clock, the fairytale was complete.
Cale, who was left distraught after Albury crashed out of last year’s competition in the first final at Greenfield Park, said it was a day he would never forget.
“I don’t think it gets any better than this,” Cale said.
“It’s still sinking in.
“So many people have put in so much hard work behind the scenes and, without sounding rude, we really deserve this.
“We worked so hard and we really deserve it.”
Group 9 secretary Warren Barclay said Albury had fought hard to become a force and deserved to come away with the first and reserve grade premierships.
“The players get the credit and rightly so but there has been a lot of work done behind the scenes that shouldn’t be forgotten,” Mr Barclay said.
He said the crowd was comparable with previous seasons and ABC Radio broadcast the match live into NSW and southern Queensland.
