EAGLES’ 45-YEAR GF WAIT ENDS IN PAT SMITH TROPHY GLORY AFTER EPIC DUEL WITH KNIGHTS
Appearing in the club’s first Pat Smith Trophy Challenge grand final since Eastern Suburbs’ 1979-81 title three-peat, Eastern Eagles have won the CRL Whitehead Plumbing and Gas Men’s Premiership – but it took a mighty second-half comeback to subdue the gallant challenge of Riccarton Knights in a 36-30 classic.
In a pulsating conclusion to the 2026 CRL Snap Fitness Grand Final Day action at Ngā Puna Wai, the at-times erratic Eagles rallied from 26-8 down early in the second half and 30-18 behind with 15 minutes to go to snatch victory.
There were few indications the Eagles would find themselves in that sort of trouble during the opening 15 minutes, however.
Superb lead-up work from five-eighth Cyrus Timo-Latu, who combined with fullback Henare Kahukiwa and centre Peneli Peneli, set up the first try after eight minutes for winger Carlos Jones. Timo-Latu – putting the early foundations of a Mel Cooke Trophy-winning performance together – busted the Knights’ defence seven minutes later and popped a one-hander over the top for Kahukiwa to stroll in.
But the Knights, grand final runners-up in 2025 but searching for their first premiership in 22 years, found their footing and posted four unanswered tries before halftime.
Lovely quick hands from Te Morehu Reweti, Jesse Wihongi and Joel Leka (playing in his second straight grand final with dad Kyle) created space for winger Tristan Griffith, who stepped inside and burrowed in to score Riccarton’s first. Lock Jamieson Ilalio then dummied his way over for a solo try to put the Knights in front.
The Knights’ momentum became unstoppable as interchange dummy-half Sincere Harrraway – the 2021 and 2024 grand final player of the match as a Hornby fullback – laid on a four-pointer for rampaging forward Lee Ewe. The Eagles continued to unravel as Jones had the ball burgled by five-eighth Jimmy Wihongi, who darted over for a try right on halftime.
Trailing 20-8 at halftime, the Eagles were, in boxing terms, on the ropes and getting a standing eight-count when Jimmy Wihongi’s pinpoint kick created a try for Knights winger Ihaka Abraham just three minutes after the resumption. Wihongi nailed the conversion – one of only five successful from 14 attempts in windy conditions – for an imposing 18-point lead.
But young Eagles hooker Isaiah Smith, who’s father Jaejae came off the bench for Eastern, produced a brilliant piece of sleight of hand to send prolific tryscoring prop Harold Kolose steaming over in the 50th minute. Kahukiwa then slipped through for his second try only three minutes later to slash the deficit to eight points.
A dazzling dummy-half burst saw grand final specialist Harraway score in the 57th minute, but that would be the Knights’ last entry on the scorecard.
The Eagles came up empty on their ensuing forays into the Riccarton red-zone, but a penalty conceded by the Knights in possession turned the tide.
Timo-Latu took it upon himself to lift Eastern, proving too big and strong close to the line to peg it back to 30-22. A Klayton Waikato offload and more ball-playing from Isaiah Smith led to a hot-stepping Leo Petelo crashing over next to the posts.
Isaiah Smith then capped a magnificent performance by taking on the defence himself on the last tackle with four minutes left, getting the ball down and grabbing the lead for the Eagles.
The Knights would not get another chance with the ball, with D’Angelo Tauti powering over out wide to seal it on the last play of the grand final.
The culmination of an admirable rise for Eastern as a club, the Eagles’ nail-biting victory was just reward for an outstanding campaign for rookie head coach Jarrod Race and his staff, co-captains Regan Marriott and Waikato (while acknowledging the contribution of unavailable regular skipper Taniela Leka), and the tight-knit squad.
The Sean Spooner-coached Knights were valiant in defeat, however, despite being left to lament letting a lead of three converted tries slip away.
2026 CRL WHITEHEAD PLUMBING AND GAS MEN’S PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL – Eastern Eagles 36 (Henare Kahukiwa 2, Carlos Jones, Harold Kolose, Cyrus Timo-Latu, Leo Petelo, Isaiah Smith, D’angleo Tauti tries; Klayton Waikato, Kahukiwa goals) defeated Riccarton Knights 30 (Tristan Giffith, Jamieson Ilalio, Lee Ewe, Jimmy Wihongi, Ihaka Abraham, Sincere Harraway tries; Wihongi 3 goals) at Ngā Puna Wai. Halftime: Knights 20-8. Referee: Jack Feavers.
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