Devils down Jets as late try turns State Championship thriller on its head
Norths Devils have captured the State Championship title, coming from behind to topple the Newtown Jets in a dramatic start to grand final day.
In beautiful sunny conditions at Accor Stadium, the winners of the Queensland Cup overcame a first-half flurry from the Jets as the NSW Cup champions faltered in the dying stages, falling 20-18 in devastating fashi.
Norths opened the scoring through back-rower Jeremiah Simbiken in the fourth minute, but it was one-way traffic for the Jets in the next 30 minutes.
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Samuel Stonestreet bagged a first-half double including an insane full-field team try, further staking his claim for a permanent spot in Cronulla's NRL line up next season.
"That will bring the crowds back. Everyone is on their feet for that one," Phil Gould said of the 90-metre try on the Nine broadcast.
"Young Liam Ison ... he's sparked this grand final with a brilliant effort. When he gets into the backfield, he passes early so he can be a support player on the inside.
"He gets it again ... this is brilliant. Stonestreet backs up with his second involvement and gets out and puts the ball down. A brilliant try."
Phil Gould was full of praise for Newtown winger Sam Stonestreet. Nine/Getty
Off-contract halfback Niwhai Puru also crossed to put the Bluebags ahead but missed two conversions from wide out, but a crucial error from Newtown coming out of trouble just before the break allowed the Devils to pounce and narrow the margin to four points.
Less than 10 minutes after half time, Stonestreet completed his hat-trick with an acrobatic finish in the corner to give the Jets some breathing room, but Puru again failed to add the extras from the sideline.
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Oryn Keeley kept his side in the contest with a powerful individual effort in the 56th minute, brushing off a host of defenders before planting it down under the sticks.
"He's beaten half the Newtown Jets side," league great Cameron Smith said.
Oryn Keeley celebrates a try. Nine
Norths almost took the lead with nine minutes left on the clock when Jacob Gagan crashed over, but replays showed the centre was held up by a desperate last-ditch effort from Jets hooker Jayden Berrell.
With time running out, five-eighth Jack Wright put edge forward Keeley over for his second try with a classy ball as the Jets defence finally cracked.
A short kick off and a costly error in good-ball territory from Newtown sealed the heartbreaking result for the foundation club.
Keeley was announced as player of the match after his match-winning display.
"Thank you to Newtown for a solid performance," he said.
"That was unreal, what a ride - we got the chocolates in the end."
