Flashback Friday: Tigers rally to beat Keas in extra-time GF thriller
As the returning Papanui Tigers prepare to head to Linwood Park to take on defending champions the Keas in Round 2 of the CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership, Flashback Friday relives the club’s most recent grand final victory.
The 2015 Pat Smith Trophy decider was one for the ages, with Papanui prevailing 20-14 over Linwood in extra time at Rugby League Park.
The triumph was the Tigers’ first since 1998 – and that team providing inspiration for the black-and-golds with a pre-match peptalk.
‘‘It was a massive motivation for us,’’ Papanui Tigers halfback Izic Placid told The Press’ Tony Smith after the grand final.
‘‘Before we came out on the field, the ’98 boys came and had a word to us [in our dressing room] about what it takes to get there. They gave our jerseys out to us, one by one. It meant a lot to [have that from] the boys who have made history in these jerseys before us.’’
Papanui, coached by Shane Endacott and Jonny Pritchard, trailed 8-0 at halftime in freezing conditions after a try to Linwood five-eighth Erwin Sauni and two goals to fullback Mackenzie Haugh. Andrew Auimatagi’s Keas had dominated the Tigers during the regular season and were firmly in the box seat.
But Tigers second-rower Phil Lavea opened his side’s account with a try after the break, while hooker Josh Ka levelled the scores at 12-all after Sauni had crossed for his second.
Placid and Haugh traded penalty goals in a tense closing quarter, consigning the combatants to an additional 20 minutes of premiership-deciding warfare.
There was no addition to the scoreboard during the first period of extra time, but Papanui fullback James Wihongi clinched the title when he sliced through to score after more than an hour and a half of frantic action.
‘‘It was cold, quite sleety and the wind chill factor was high,’’ Endacott told Smith post-match.
‘‘We nearly brought out the kleensaks [to players to wear under their jerseys].’’
The win was especially sweet for captain and Mel Cooke Trophy recipient Placid, and best mate Andre October, who had played together at Papanui since the age of five.
‘‘[Placid’s kicking game] made a big difference, I’m sure that played a big part in him getting [the Mel Cooke Trophy as] man of the match. It turned them around and made them work off the line,’’ Endacott said.
Meanwhile, Endacott praised the influence of veteran forward Jaejae Smith: ‘‘[Jaejae’s] been playing premier football for 10 years, trying to make the final, let alone win one. He really stood up and led from the front today.”
2015 CRL PAT SMITH TROPHY GRAND FINAL
Papanui Tigers 20 (Phil Lavea, Josh Ka, James Wihongi tries; Izic Placid 4 goals) defeated Linwood Keas 14 (Erwin Sauni 2 tries; Mackenzie Haugh 3 goals) after extra time at AMI Stadium, August 9, 2015.
