Penrith Brothers captain Sia Sisifa has signed off on his Rugby League career in the best possible way after leading his team to a 43-18 win over Wentworthville United in the Sydney Shield Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval today to secure the club's first premiership.
It was appropriate the retiring skipper hit a field goal in the 79th minute to have his name last on the Brothers scoresheet.
“I am done,” he told nswrl.com.au after the presentations. “I called it last Wednesday – what better way to go out than with a premiership.
“Attitude and resilience won it for us. We’d been speaking about it all week of how that would be the key.”
Match: Magpies v Brothers
Grand Final -
home Team
Magpies
away Team
Brothers
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
The seven tries to three victory was Brothers sixth on the trot. They had to win the last two games of the season to scrape into fifth spot and secure a finals berth before surviving three sudden-death matches to make it to the decider.
“Wenty have been the benchmark all year but my guys just wanted it so much today,” Brothers coach Brad Vaughan said.
“It’s been such a long season with so many ups and downs with injuries. But I just knew they were up for it today the way they had prepped all week.”
Five-eighth and goalkicker Donovan Bailey – who had a perfect seven from seven conversions – was Player of the Match, although his halves partner Tyran Pettit-Young must have come close.
“Ty and Dono have been sensational for us all season,” Vaughan said. “They’ve had regular stints in Ron Massey Cup too for good reason. It was so good to get them back towards the back-end of the season.”
Brothers kept Wentworthville scoreless for 45 minutes and took advantage of a fatiguing United pack.
Two tries within three minutes late in the first half gave Brothers the lead at the break 18-12.
It was a late flurry by Brothers after the teams were locked 6-all for 20 minutes. First Brothers utility Kye Raven picked up a loose ball and found centre Luke Philp in support. He raced 60 metres to score.
Then three minutes later a short-side raid by half Pettit-Young and centre Mitchell Owen put fullback Dean Kammel in the clear.
Brothers first try of the afternoon came in the 13th minute when prop Eddie Ene received the ball on the 10 metre-line, dragged two defenders forward before being met by another three on the goal-line, but still managed to swivel and plant the Steeden down.
It was actually Wentworthville who opened the scoring early in the match when No.6 Jaydn Field took one pass off the ruck and crashed over. United’s second try came from a Brothers dropped ball inside their own half. Winger Josh Delailoa picked it up and raced 70 metres untouched.
In the second half, Brothers kept the foot on the pedal scoring early through Raven, who swerved his way up field for his side’s fourth try.
The 57th minute proved eventful. Boney had a one-on-one steal off United winger Iskeli Laqekoro, which led to Brothers fifth try. The ball went through the hands down the left edge for Wayne Baxter to score.
In back-play Delailo was sent to the sin bin for an alleged high tackle, reducing Wentworthville to 12 men.
In the final minute before United were back to full strength, Brothers hooker Soakimi Fakaua plunged over from dummy-half to put the scoreboard out to 36-12 with 14 minutes on the clock.
But another runway try to Brothers – this time to lock Noah Nailagoliva – in the 73rd minute put the result beyond doubt even though hooker Ayden Carling scored a consolation try in the 78th minute.
