Corrimal ends 37-year grand final wait with major semi final victory over Thirroul
There were scenes of pure jubilation at Ziems Park on Saturday as Corrimal reached its first Illawarra Rugby League grand final in 37 years with a 28-20 victory over local rivals Thirroul in the major semi final.
Roared on by a massive crowd, the Cougars raced out to a 22-0 lead after 19 minutes and controlled the match from that point to book a place in the club’s first top grade decider since 1989.
Corrimal coach Sean Tabet said it was “pretty special” to book a place in the final game of the season in front of the club’s supporters, who have stuck by the club through many tough seasons over the past two decades.
“I felt like when we got the minor premiership a couple of weeks ago, that was something to celebrate, but getting into the grand final, that’s been on our goals since last September, October, so it was really special,” he said.
“For the old boys that have been there for the hard years, for them to enjoy that moment when the siren went, it was very special.”
The Cougars started fast, with a brilliant individual chip and chase try to Lorima Saukuru followed by two further tries to Mani Richter and Jacob Karam off kicks from halfback Cody Fuz.
Saifiti Saifiti then finished off a coast-to-coast shift to extend Corrimal’s lead to 22-0 at the quarter mark of the game.
The Butchers finally hit back in the 38th minute through Sione Afemui and added a penalty goal heading into the break to close the gap to 22-8, before crossing first in the second half through Flynn O’Mara to close to eight points at 22-14.
However, Saifiti crossed again two minutes later to extend the margin back to 12, and a penalty goal in the 68th minute all but sealed the win and a place in the big dance for the Cougars, despite Tarje Whitford crossing for a late try for Thirroul.
With the match being a rare finals edition ‘Battle of the Beaches’, there was no surprise that local supporters turned out in droves to support the two rival northern Illawarra clubs.
While he both was taken aback by the number of people in attendance and pleased to win such a big game against the local rivals, Tabet said he believes the Butchers could easily have finished on top had things gone differently in what was a very close minor premiership race.
“Realistically, they were probably unlucky not getting the minor premiership, so they are the benchmark, right up there with us,” he said.
“I’ve never been to a local footy game with a crowd that big, it felt like a local derby, edge of your seat stuff.
“You see the history between the two clubs, a lot of players that have been between both squads, so you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Having opened the game with an incredible four-pointer, the star of the show was Saukuru, with his performance at the back proving key to the Cougars’ victory.
After a stellar season with the club, Tabet was full of praise for the way the former junior representative player has handled important moments and matches throughout the season.
“Lorima Saukuru, he was man of the match, he was levels above on the weekend,” he said.
“He played in the Dragons SG Ball team that only won one game this year, so he was a bit low on confidence, in terms of the teams he had played in.
“Since he’s joined our squad, he’s grown leaps and bounds, and his confidence every week is going up and up, and he’s willing to take the big risks and the big plays in the big moments.
“He’s definitely one to watch on grand final day, and we back him every step of the way.”
Meanwhile, in the minor semi final, a clutch field goal from halfback Blair Grant kept Collegians’ season alive with a 31-30 victory over Dapto at the Collegians Sports Complex.
After a back-and-forth first half, Dapto turned an 18-12 advantage at the interval into a 12-point lead at the 43-minute mark after a contest on the end of a Harrison Chater kick resulted in a try under the posts to Drew Langdon.
However, the Collie Dogs fought back, crossing for three of the final four tries of the match to level the scores at 30-all, paving the way for Grant’s late heroics.
The winner of the Collegians-Thirroul preliminary final will play Corrimal in the grand final at WIN Stadium on Saturday, September 19.
CORRIMAL 28 (Saifiti Saifiti 2, Lorima Saukuru, Mani Richter, Jacob Karam tries; Saifiti 4 goals) DEFEATED THIRROUL 20 (Sione Afemui, Flynn O’Mara, Tarje Whitford tries; Whitford 4 goals) at Ziems Park, Saturday September 5.
COLLEGIANS 31 (Cooper Barnes 2, Dante Lusio, Nic Hall, Tex Anderson tries; Blair Grant 5 goals; Grant field goal) DEFEATED DAPTO 30 (Troy Pieper, Kirtis Fisher, Jack Gibbons, Drew Langdon, Tye Bursill tries; Pieper 4, Jackson Rieck goals) at Collegians Sports Complex, Saturday September 5.
