After one of the tightest South Coast Group 7 Rugby League finishes for years, Jamberoo Superoos have turned the clock back 56 years to claim the First Grade Minor Premiership.

Jamberoo Superoos utility player Ben Wade on fire against
Gerringong Lions in the deciding round

Going into the final round trailing Shellharbour City Sharks by two points and facing reigning premiers Gerringong Lions, the Superoos prevailed 16-4 in a Kevin Walsh Oval thriller.

With the Sharks upset by Port Kembla, Jamberoo slipped past the Lions and Sharks into first spot after 18 rounds.

The Superoos’ win has seen Gerringong slip back to an elimination Semi-Final against Warilla-Lake South Gorillas at Michael Cronin Oval on Saturday
26 August, in a match which is ironically a replay of the 2016 Grand Final. The Kiama Knights, who had the final round bye, moved into third spot and will face the Sharks at Shellharbour in a Qualifying Semi the next day. The winner will face Jamberoo at Kevin Walsh Oval in the major Semi-Final on Sunday 3 September.

However the Superoos are not getting too excited at the Minor Premiership, knowing they are still two tough games away from winning the club’s first First Grade Premiership since Lionel Simmons’ side in 1974.

“We are pretty rapt to finish on top and get a home Major Semi, but we know that all four sides behind us have plenty of finals’ experience, so we will be training hard over the next few weeks to prepare for what lies ahead,” says Jamberoo captain-coach Jono Dallas.

“We should have everyone back on deck for next week, so we should be at full strength,” he added.

All three Kiama Municipality clubs have fared well during the season, with Jamberoo and Kiama represented by three teams, and Gerringong having two in the Semi-Finals.