NSW Country Cockatoos fell agonisingly short of what would have been an all-time comeback in the grand final of the men’s competition at the Australian Rugby Shield in Newcastle on Sunday as Queensland Country defended their 2024 title with an eight-point victory.
The Heelers ran in a last-minute try at Number Two Sportsground to break NSW Country hearts after the Cockatoos had scored three late tries to get within striking distance.
A NSW Country Cockatoos team that included a former Narrabri Blue Boar, Rowena’s Jack Radford, as well as Gunnedah Red Devil Tim McDermott and Moree Bull Duncan Woods, won all three of their games earlier in the tournament after defeating the Queensland Subbies 29-13 on Wednesday, October 1, Tasmania Jack Jumpers 75-12 on Thursday, October 2, and the Hunter Wildfires Development team 15-7 on Saturday.
Despite that dominance, they were behind 26-3 at half-time in the decider after they had taken the lead with a fourth-minute penalty goal.
Radford, who was a grand final winner with Ballina Seahorses this season after winning the Hannaford-Southwell Shield with the Narrabri Blue Boars against St Albert’s College at Dangar Park back in April, started the final for the NSW Country men at halfback.
His team crossed for the first try of the second stanza but then found themselves behind 34-10 after the Queenslanders went over again in the 59th minute of the 80-minute match.
However, NSW Country registered tries in the 65th, 70th and 74th minutes to make the score 34-31 and set up a grandstand finish.
There were still three points in it with just two minutes remaining, but the Queensland men sealed the win when they threw in a lineout from the right touchline and spread the ball all the way to left winger Shaquille Rangi, who dived over into the corner.
The Cockatoos did win the ball back after the kick-off and had possession after the siren, but they conceded a penalty in possession of the ball and the Queenslanders won by eight points.
NSW Country Corellas’ women’s side featured two Narrabri Blue Boars flyers as Cass Morley returned for her second Shield campaign and April Smith made her debut.
Their team also included Gunnedah’s Jean Littlewood, Scone’s Emily Fear and Tamworth’s Nikki Berryman.
The Corellas lost all three of their games on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, which put them through to the fifth-place playoff match against Queensland Subbies on Sunday.
They finished the tournament in style in that contest with a dominant 39-3 victory, during which Morley crossed for a try.
That win saw them place fifth out of six teams at the tournament, while the winning women’s side was Sydney Women following a 19-17 grand final victory over ACT and South NSW Kestrels.
Former Narrabri Blue Boar Jack Radford fires off a pass for the NSW Country Cockatoos.
