The drought is over.
Eastern Suburbs have held on against Northern Suburbs 36-35 at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon to claim their first Shute Shield title in 55 years.
But the raucous scenes at full-time, as Jack Bowen banged the ball onto the Wayne Pearce Hill to seal their first title since 1969, could so nearly have ended in tears instead.
A year after being denied by Randwick, Norths blew a golden moment in the 80th minute as replacement hooker James Margan bounced the ball on the line after pinning the ears back.
Eastern Suburbs celebrate their first Shute Shield title in 55 years after defeating Northern Suburbs at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday 31 August 2024. Photo: Karen Watson, SRU
One half of the hill jumped in the air, the other held its breath, before referee Angus Gardner ruled indeed that Margan had spilt the ball in the process of grounding it.
All Easts needed to do was to win the scrum, milk the clock and bang the ball into touch.
Bowen, whose Wallaby father Scott failed to win the Shute Shield as a player and fell just short as a coach in 2007, did the honours, banging the ball into touch as the Beasties roared once and for all.
“That’s unbelievable,” Bowen told The Roar. “To do it after 55 years and do it the way we did it, we made it tough on ourselves, but the way we hung in there and that last bit of effort is what we’re about. It’s been such a special day.”
Jack Bowen celebrates with fans after claiming the Shute Shield title at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday 31 August 2024. Photo: Karen Watson, SRU
Having survived calls to be docked after a points breach on the eve of the finals series, the so-called “Real Madrid of rugby” managed to do the double as they put the Shute Shield title alongside the minor premiership.
Did the shadow of more than a half a century of pain weigh on them?
“A little bit,” Bowen said.” We tried not to think about it. Obviously none of us were alive in ’69 aside from our assistant coach Billy Melrose.
“There was obviously a bit of chat about it around the east, but we tried to keep it about us and about building a new legacy with Easts.”
Waratahs second-rower Miles Amatosero was colossal in the contest.
The big lock, who returned from three seasons at Clermont, managed to slice through Northern Suburbs’ maul in the first-half in a defining play on the stroke of half-time.
“This is the first grand final I’ve played in,” Amatosero said. “I can’t explain the feeling. Just seeing the turnout, seeing the love that everyone has for this club, I love it.”
Former Junior Wallabies captain Teddy Wilson was immense during his 80-minute effort.
After being part of their rebuilding phase in recent years, Wilson eased the nerves early on when he finished off a stunning try that saw Darby Lancaster burst onto a lovely Bowen cut out pass, before the Wallaby cut back on the inside and linked up with his halfback.
“It’s indescribable at the moment. It’s crazy,” Wilson said.
“I’ve been around the club for a few years and we’ve been pretty average the last couple of years, so to turn it around this year and to win the minor premiership and get the job done today is such a special feeling.
“They kept coming. It was stressful. They were coming hard and the boys did really well to hold them out. For ‘Bowie’ to kick the ball out, it’s something I won’t forget for a very long time.”
Miles Amatosero was one of Easts’ best during their one-point win over Norths at Leichhardt Oval. Photo: Karen Watson, SRU
Before then Zak Beer’s men had overturned a 29-13 half-time deficit by scoring quick three tries to start the second half to take a narrow lead.
Junior Wallaby Henry O’Donnell was at the heart of their comeback as the outside centre crossed the tryline in both halves, while fullback Max Burey was a constant threat.
Rising Norths openside flanker Ed Timpson was also one of his side’s best, with the loose-forward scoring a stunning runaway try in the second half to continue their surge.
But Lancaster’s try stopped the bleeding before Cooper Whiteside’s sideline conversion pushed the margin out to 36-32.
Norths made it a one-point game when Jude Gibbs slotted a penalty.
It looked like Norths would break Easts’ hearts and extend their 55-year drought when they capitalised on some poor wasteful kicking, but ultimately they were denied by a matter of inches away.
