The Tumut Blues climbed up off the canvas to claim the Group 9 Premiership at McDonald's Park on Sunday.
Taking on Wagga Kangaroos on their home turf in hot and trying conditions, a fit and fast 'Roos outfit raced to a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Still Tumut stormed back to score a memorable 23-18 victory and lift the Group 9 trophy in the 100th year of the competition.
It was a nervous start to the game as both sides gave away penalties in the opening 10 minutes as referee Ben Whitby set an early standard.
Tumut looked like they would open the scoring with centre Brayden Draber on the attack down the left edge.
But opposite centre Ned Cooper pulled Draber down by his shoulder to stop him short of the line.
Returning a kick, Blues winger Tommy Hickson coughed up the ball granting the Kangaroos excellent attacking field position, which they converted into the match's first points.
Following a couple of quick play-the-balls, the main one being James Hay, Hayden Jolliffe scooted and scored the easiest of tries.
Latrell Siegwalt converted and the Kangaroos were away 6-0 after 12 minutes.
Tumut was again their own worst enemy, when Draber lost the ball in a one-on-one steal to Ned Cooper.
Again, in good field position, the Wagga side capitalised - this time spreading the ball to the left. With good numbers on hand, Rose put Jacob Mascini into space and the Riverina representative centre scored a good try.
Close to the touchline Siegwalt made the conversion attempt look easy as the Steeden crossed the black dot, and the Kangaroos led 12-0 after 15 minutes.
Tumut struggled to contend with Wagga's fast pace and quick play-the-balls, with Hay, Luke Ingram and Troy Barby pushing forward.
The Kangaroos had another points-scoring opportunity when earning a penalty, which Siegwalt iced for a 14-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The Blues changed tactics, and instead of charging it up one-out, they started to get their backs more involved.
Hickson, Jordy Anderson, Dean and Lachlan Bristow started to rack up the metres and had the Kangaroos back-tracking.
Wagga could have shot further clear in the set of six after the half-timebreak, with Siegwalt slicing through Tumut's defence and sprinting clear down the left edge.
The home side tried to crack Tumut's line, but the Blues defence held solid.
Then after spending a full set on the attack, Lachlan Bristow grubbered a kick that was deflected off a Kangaroos player, with Jacob Sturt there to reach high for the ball and ground it.
Lachlan Bristow was successful with his conversion attempt, and Tumut trailed 14-6 after 44 minutes.
The bounce of the ball started to go Tumut's way, and back-to-back penalties had the Blues on the attack.
Tumut shaped nicely and some Billy Bridgeman magic had the Blues within two points.
Attacking the right edge, Lachlan Bristow got an offload away to Jacob Toppin, who showed quick hands to draw and pass to Bridgeman. Despite the attention of three derenders, the winger got a hand free and grounded the ball for a terrific try.
Lachlan Bristow nailed the conversion and Tumut only trailed Wagga 14-12 after 56 minutes.
Wagga eventually cracked Tumut’s line, with a sweeping left-side play finished off by Mascini, who crossed for his second of the day.
From a difficult position, Siegwalt's conversion attempt drifted across the face of the uprights, and the Kangaroos led 18-12 after 62 minutes.
A Lachlan Bristow bomb led to Riverina fullback Siegwalt make a rare mistake inside his 10-metre line by knocking on.
Moments later Tumut took advantage of the excellent field position, sending the ball left for Mitch Ivill, who got a one-handed pass away for young Malik Aitken to score.
Lachlan Bristow's conversion attempt fell short, and the Kangaroos led 18-16 with 13 minutes to play.
Michael Fenn, who played a massive role despite a rib injury, stole the ball in a one-on-one rake, and Tumut was back on the attack.
Moments later, the Blues were finally ahead, when Jordy Anderson picked up the ball and scooted away to score under the posts.
Lachlan Bristow slotted the easy conversion attempt and Tumut had a slim 22-18 lead with just seven minutes on the clock.
Tumut lifted a gear in the final minutes and made the job just that little bit harder for the Roos when Lachlan Bristow kicked a close-range field goal in the 78th minute.
The Blues co-coach Lachlan Bristow took the last carry into the waiting Tumut fans as a sea of blue cascaded onto McDonald's Park.
Bristow was awarded the John Hill Medal as best-on-ground in the decider.
It was the second time Bristow had won the medal after he guided Tumut to a drought-breaking title in 20219.
