A great roll up for 2024 at the fantastic NSW town of Port Macquarie, saw eight men’s NSWPRL teams comprising of , Easts Wombats, Country North Cowboys, Bankstown Giants, Macarthur Bulls, Parramatta Eels, Manly sea eagles. Penrith Panthers and Country South Steelers all vying to make the finals.
Easts Wombats won the first semi-final defeating the Macarthur Bulls and the Country North Cowboys defeating the Bankstown Giants in the dying seconds after Connor Storck put in a smart kick which was anticipated to perfection for Country North President Ben Anderson to swoop on and secure a place in the final.
In the Final, the Eastern Suburbs Wombats were victorious against a gallant Country North Cowboys team, who made their inaugural final. The Wombats were ahead by 12 points to nil, with 12 minutes remaining when an unfortunate accident happened to Country North back Bailey Schultz. The training staff took the correct cautionary procedures which saw Bailey taken by ambulance from the ground. Bailey’s injury was diagnosed as muscular once he underwent an MRI, but the game was abandoned and Wombats victorious. The main thing, is Bailey is in good spirits and should make a full recovery.
Cowboys and Wombats players make an honour guard as Bailey is taken from the field by NSW Ambulance.
NSWPRL Life member Alex ‘The Jet’ Ramsay and Police Bank representative Boyd Stewart presented the winners trophies to Wombats captain Hayden Ashcroft.
Wombats players Max Batty was voted man of the match and presented with his trophy by NSWPRL Life member Doug Keen.
The NSWPRL Rookie of the year award was presented to Pat Birch by Easts Wombats legend Bruce Tape.
Voted men’s player of the carnival, Rhys Schreuder is presented his trophy by NSWPRL life member and Vice President Rod Sheraton.
Thanks to Darrell Nash for allowing us to publish his fantastic photographs. See below his banner for all retirement or decorator medal frames.
