TWENTY-ONE years in the making, Albury came of age as a Group Nine powerhouse by denying Southcity a second straight premiership at Equex Centre yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bitter disappointments were forgotten when Albury broke through for its maiden triumph by upstaging Southcity 36-26 in an enthralling grand final.
In front for all bar eight minutes of the game, the Thunder survived a fit of stage fright before eclipsing the crown the Bulls bagged last year.
Up 18-8 at half-time, Albury dropped its guard to let the Bulls score the first two tries of the second half to fleetingly snatch the lead in the 51st minute.
Ultimately, the best team for the six-month haul to grand final day regained its composure to secure a groundbreaking success.
Amid the jubilation, emotion was crafted on the face of long-serving and long-suffering Albury officials as the Thunder players later celebrated with family, friends and enthusiastic supporters.
For Thunder secretary Barry Overs, a man with a burning fervour for the border club, the victory was justification for years of heartache and toil.
"It's been a long time coming," Overs said.
"This is what the club has been working to for all those years."
Likewise, triumphant Albury captain-coach Josh Cale later described the Thunder's gripping success as a magic milestone for rugby league in Australian football heartland.
Swamped by well-wishers and almost overwhelmed with delight, Cale said yesterday's grand final victory would strengthen the Thunder's roots in their home town.
"I think a lot more people will sit and up take notice," Cale said with pride.
"This will really help put us on the map."
For Cale, who bookended the grand final with decisive plays, the Thunder's six tries to five tries win was the culmination of a four-year journey.
Enticed to the city in 2009, Cale has steadily built the team into a formidable unit and the enduring hard work paid off in spades yesterday.
Significantly, Albury's two major recruits of 2012 were also two of the gilt-edge heroes of the grand final.
Halves Willie Heta and Matt Rose, both newcomers this year, featured in almost every try and created chances when they were most needed.
Fittingly, Heta claimed the John Hill Medal as the best player on the ground, but Rose could have also fitted the bill a classic dynamic duo.
Reflecting on the result, Cale paid tribute to gallant Southcity and to the grit and determination of his own men.
"They're (Southcity) a great side and they just keep coming at us," Cale said.
"We made a lot of mistakes but I never lost confidence.
"The boys wanted this so much."
Clearly shattered by the outcome, Southcity captain-coach Daniel Fitzhenry was gracious in handing on the premiership baton.
"They've (Albury) been the best team all year," Fitzhenry said.
"You can't take that away from them.
"They played well."
Fitzhenry also lamented "missed opportunities", which he claimed cost the team at least two tries.
"We lost our heads at times," he said.
"We could have won it, but some passes weren't good enough.
"I suppose that's been the story of our season."
On the cusp of possible retirement, Cale was exceptional yesterday, scoring the opening try and setting up the clincher for Tommy Gemmell with a ripper of a pass.
