This year’s Woodbridge Cup grand final venue was the Manildra sports centre, the Manildra Rhinos rugby league club this season’s success story, taking all the glory on offer on grand final day.
Manildra’s first-grade side backed up last year’s title with their second in a row – and back-to-back premierships.
Testament to the strength of their rivals – and the competition itself – Manildra won the title from Trundle after an epic contest by just two points, an 18-16 premiership win.
Trundle are old adversaries – they were the last three premiership winners before the two COVID-interrupted seasons in 2020 and 2021 – and it has been 10 years since neither club were involved in a Woodbridge Cup grand final.
The worthy foes went toe to toe, the halftime score locked up at 6-all, and the Rhinos prevailed 18-16 at the final whistle. In the leaguetag decider, Manildra Rhinettes, runners-up last year, began the day’s football with the first of the two nail-biters, their 10-6 win over Cargo to set the tone for the men’s game afterwards.
