Jamie Parsons
Narrandera Lizards are celebrating 100 years of Rugby League at the Proten Cup Grand Finals tomorrow (Saturday 20 July).
The first advertised game for the Lizards was found in a newspaper in 1921.
But Narrandera were unable to host 100-year celebrations in 2021 due to the COVID pandemic restrictions. So what better occasion to celebrate the century than hosting a home grand final?
Narrandera has spent most of its existence in Group 20, winning first grade grand finals there in 1986, 1991, and 1999. They first went to Group 17 for a single year in 2001, winning the last reserve grade premiership.
After 14 years without a club they returned in 2018 with the formation of the Proten Cup making their first grand final in 2019, losing to Goolgowi.
They then defeated Ivanhoe in both the 2022 and 2023 grand finals.
With their third straight grand final, they are looking to become the most successful club in the Proten Cup’s short history.
The Lizards have not a game since Round Four 2022, with a draw against Rankins Springs in Round Three this year the only stumble in a 17-match undefeated streak.
Much of the Lizards recent success goes to president Shaun Lyons, who was the driving force behind the reformation of the senior club and rejoining the Proten Cup.
Coach Kye Longford, who led Narrandera to back-to-back premierships also deserves some praise along with co-coach Gary Ingram this year, for a third straight grand final.
The re-emergence of Rugby League in Narrandera has been so strong that this season the Lizards fielded a full Under 16s side in Group 20 for the first time since 2004.
Their opponent tomorrow lies equal with the Lizards in the Proten Cup premiership tally - Rankins Springs. They won the first premiership in 2018 and then in 2021, both against Goolgowi.
The Dragons have resurged this year coming back from finishing second last in 2023 to finishing top-two this year and making a third Proten Cup grand final.
First-time coaches Damian Walker and Josh Johnston have turned the team into the best defensive side in the competition, averaging only 10 points conceded per game in the regular season.
The Dragons have a storied history themselves. Founded in 1926, they joined Group 17 when it was founded and won their first premiership in 1953, followed by a second in 1962.
A 31-year drought then ensued which included six years being unable to field a team, before the Dragons won both first and reserve grade premierships and a Clayton Cup in 1993.
In 1997 they repeated the double, and won their last Group 17 premiership in 2000 before the competition folded in 2006.
Along with the premierships they also finished runners-up in 1992, 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2006.
In their last 20 seasons (since 1992) the Dragons have made 12 grand finals.
Renowned for producing good, tough footballers despite their very small population of just over 200, the side also holds the rare distinction of qualifying for a grand final with more draws than wins - four draws in eight games including last weekend’s preliminary final.
The Grand Final day will also include three Group 20 games played as curtain raisers - the first time the two competitions have held games on the same day, with Yanco and DPC playing in League Tag and reserve grade while Narrandera’s Under 16s will play DPC before the women’s grand final.
That features a rematch of 2023’s Barellan-Ivanhoe decider. The Ivanhoe Hens gave Barellan their first loss after the Rams girls had won 14 straight since the start of 2023. But the Rams side is formidable and has every chance of turning the result in their favour once again.
2024 ProTen Grand Final cshedule
9.30am: Group 20 League Tag, Yanco v DPC
10.30am: Group 20 Reserve Grade, Yanco v DPC
11.40am: ProTen Cup end of season Awards Presentation
12.30pm: Group 20 U16s, Narrandera v DPC
1.30pm: ProTen Cup Women’s Grand Final, Ivanhoe v Barellan
2.30pm: ProTen Cup Men’s Grand Final, Narrandera v Rankins Springs
