Eastern Suburbs have banished the demons and heartbreak of last year, defeating Warringah 31-15 in the Shute Shield Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval.
Number eight Jimmy Hokafonu led the power game for the minor premiers, constantly making ground in a forward pack that was dominant for the majority of the 80 minutes.
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The former San Diego backrower had a first-half double as Easts held tough in the second half to make it two titles in the space of three years.
Defending champions Warringah had the running early, with hooker Tom Gee crossing for the opener.
Gee, who last month was playing fourth grade, clutched onto a cross-field kick from Byron Smith and shrugged off the covering defence for the try.
But Easts’ power was too much to handle, getting their response via tight-head prop Reon Lowery.
Hokafonu extended the lead shortly afterwards with a powerful burst from close, with the Rats firing back through prop Pat La Torraca.
The comeback was short-lived when Charlie McKill paid the price for earlier indiscretions as he sat for ten, allowing the number eight to score his second and give Easts a 11-point lead.
As the rain pelted down, loosehead prop Rob Cobb kept the front-row love going with a crucial try to start the second half.
Former Wallaby Luke Reimer looked to single-handedly inspire the Rats back into the game as they started to negate Easts’ forward dominance.
Reimer reduced the lead back down to 13 with a try of his own and won several turnovers as the defending champions fought with everything to come back into the game.
His work alongside Zac Barnabas was huge in flipping the momentum and giving them a chance to come back.
Ultimately, Easts’ set piece was clutch in shutting down Warringah whenever they entered their 22, stealing three lineouts close to their line.
The second-row combo of Tom Girle and skipper Josh Bosker were superb, whilst Australia U20 star Edwin Langi made a difference off the bench.
Sd Harvey’s late penalty sealed the win for Easts, having missed an earlier shot in the difficult conditions.
“I’m lost for words,” scurmhalf Teddy Wilson said post-game. “The heartbreak from last year and coming back to get it done, I’m over the moon.
“There were a lot of nerves this week, thoughts back to last year. So proud to get it done in the tough conditions, but we got it done.
“It was outstanding defence from the boys and we’d spoke about it all year with the boys that we wanted to be the number one defensive side and it showed up today to get it done.”
