The Gerringong Lions will look to add to their competition-record 20 Group 7 premierships on Sunday when taking on the Shellharbour Sharks in the grand final at Albion Park's Centenary Field.
The Lions have been a competition powerhouse since winning their maiden first-grade premiership in 1914.
Yet, they have taken their success to unrivalled heights in recent years - with club stalwart and Australian Rugby League legend Mick Cronin at the helm - the Lions played in seven of 11 Group 7 Grand Finals between 2010 and 2020.
The Lions boasted an excellent winning record during that golden run triumphing in 2010, 2013, 2015-16, and 2020.
From Cronin hanging up the clipboard at the end of the 2020 season, Scott Stewart stepped out of that shadow and took charge of the talented side.
COVID cancelled the Group 7 season in 2021, and Stewart led the Lions to a Group 7 Minor Premiership in 2022. But his side lost the big dance when going down to Warilla-Lake South Gorillas 16-14.
When quizzed on Gerringong's continued success, Stewart admitted the Lions were the envy of all sides in the competition because the club kept producing top-tier talent.
"People probably don't like us because we're always up there, and they think we have the same team, but it's been a different side every year," Stewart said.
"Only two players in, Nathan Ford and Rixon Russell, have been there the whole time.
"Even this year, we started off with a big turnover of players, and looking at numbers, it was the least we'd ever had going into a season."
Gerringong is home to some legends of the game, with Cronin joined by Rod Wishart and Paul Quinn as fellow Australian representatives.
Then there are Fijian and NRL stars Ashton, Tariq, and Korbin Sims, and current NRL players Reuben Garrick and Jackson Ford.
Stewart explained that the Gerringong Lions being an NRL nursery was a double-edged sword, as it meant most good players progressed to higher honours.
"We've got 13 players involved in Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup, or the NRL right now, and while that is terrific and great for the club, what that has done is torn the guts out of us," Stewart said with a smile.
"The last couple of years, we've had really good Under-18s sides - probably a bit too good - and what has happened is that they have stepped up to that next level."
Stewart has been in the unusual position of using more players than ever, and despite the always-evolving nature of his squad, the Lions managed a second-place finish on the competition ladder.
"The year's going really well, and our secretary told me that when Mick Cronin was coaching, he was using around 20 players, and this year, we've used 34 players in First-Grade," Stewart said.
"Nearly our whole under-18s side has played First-Grade at some stage, which is great for them and good experience, and we've called on Reserve-Grade players, and it's been a pretty unique season that way.
"Still, the last two weeks, we are getting as close to full strength as we can, which is always good leading into a Grand Final."
The Lions are hitting peak form at the right stage of the season. In the Qualifying final, they knocked off Shellharbour Sharks 24-10 before qualifying for Sunday's Grand Final with a 32-22 win over the Shellharbour Stingrays in the Major Semi-final.
While the Lions enjoyed last weekend off, the Sharks played an epic Preliminary final thriller that lasted 100 minutes and was settled in golden point.
Tied 16-16 with crosstown rivals and Minor Premiers, Shellharbour Stingrays, at Cec Glenholmes Oval, an Isaac Morris field goal broke the deadlock. The Sharks qualified for their first Group 7 Grand Final since 2018.
"That was a good win, and they'll be buzzing about and up for Sunday's game," Stewart said.
"They are a really good defensive unit and have consistently been the best defensive side all year, and it will be a matter of being patient with the ball, knowing what works, and not being rattled if we don't score early on."
Sunday’s program will thrill the Gerringong faithful at Centenary Field, with the Lions First-Grade, Reserve-Grade, and Under-18s sides playing in grand finals.
