By JARROD POTTER
THE pain of last season’s Victorian Rugby League grand final beating was put to bed by Casey Warriors in a 30-22 first grade triumph over Werribee.
After earning the right to host the grand final at the Casey Fields rugby complex, the Warriors made good use of their home-field advantage to claim their first VRL first grade premiership.
Things started well for the Warriors, storming out to an 18-6 half-time lead.
The Warriors coasted to the early lead on the back of tries to Brandon Manase, Fitu Failegutu and Joe Watene-Lavina – but Werribee didn’t lie down though, taking back the lead part way through the second half and forcing the Warriors to dig deep and find a reply.
Jesse McQueen snuck into the corner to pinch the lead back – working into free space with the Warriors on a fast-pace overlap against the Bears’ scrambling right-side defence.
The Bears pushed back up the ground, but the Warriors held firm to set up the final drive of the match.
Casey pushed forward and an impressive cut-back from Watene-Lavina went straight to Michael Butson to finish the job and take the eight-point premiership victory as the siren sounded.
Casey captain Dion Hita was named player of the match for his surging efforts, and thought the clash was much harder than the scores suggested.
“I think that the score doesn’t really reflect the game,” Hita said.
“They really put some pressure on us and made us have to grind it out in the second half.
“I didn’t think I deserved it actually – I think all the boys in our team deserve it (best on ground trophy),” Hita said.
“If they had 13 of these trophies around, I think everyone would deservedly grab one.”
Seeing the game to advance and grow at the Warriors year-in, year-out, Hita wanted to thank the Casey Rugby League community for getting behind the boys on Saturday.
“It’s definitely a big achievement, people come to this club at the start of the year and we’ve sort of come back and grouped together and pulled through and to come away with a good trophy at the end is what we all play for,” Hita said.
“Just want to thank all the supporters – this is just an awesome feeling coming down here seeing everyone support the cause.
“Rugby has come a long way in Melbourne and it really shows with everyone here.”
Casey’s women didn’t fare as well in the women’s tackle final, downed 8-10 by Dandenong-based South Eastern Titans. Casey’s Shahana Te Tomo was named player of the match.
