KARUAH Roos rugby league iron man Daniel Evans holds pride of place in the club’s annals of history.
The legendary hooker celebrated another milestone last Saturday when he skippered the Roos to a deserved 34-28 premiership triumph over the Stockton Sharks in the Newcastle Hunter Rugby League C Grade Grand Final at Lakeside Sporting Complex.
Victory was sweet for the decorated Roos’ player-coach and teammates.
It helped erase the bitter memories of the club’s heartbreaking 28-26 loss to Paterson River in last year’s D Grade North trophy decider at the same venue.
Karuah edged out the Sharks in a thrilling tussle to claim their first title since lifting the D Grade trophy back in 2016.
Evans was one of three current players to feature in that premiership-winning side nine years ago along with skilful five-eighth and team vice captain Sam Croese and prop Ryan Saunders.
The Roos defeated Hinton Hornets 24-20 at Harker Oval to snap a 41-year premiership drought with the versatile Evans playing halfback and turning in a best-on-ground performance.
Strong-running Saunders shone as a centre that day and scored a crucial try with Croese booting four conversions.
Last weekend the club stalwarts were in vintage form as they helped engineer another epic Grand Final victory.
For elusive winger Luke Perry the premiership triumph was a double celebration in his 100th appearance for the Karuah club – scoring one of the Roos’ six tries and swelling his career tally to 64.
It was a special moment for the quicksilver Perry – an inductee in Karuah’s Team of The Decade 2013-23 – who has developed into a tryscoring machine in the Newcastle and Hunter competition.
Both sides turned on the style with Evans and wily Sharks hooker Max Hardy inspiring their teammates with top games in a cracking duel between the ace number nines.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, the astute Hardy kept Stockton in the hunt with a try double, along with four pointers from centres Brad Andersen and Isaac Hardy and prop Koby Gordon plus four conversions by skipper and halfback Nick Hor.
Karuah’s dynamic fullback Shaqueil Saunders contributed a personal tally of 18 points from two tries and five goals and added thrust to the backline with his pace and swerve.
Evans, along with second rower Caleb Langdon and tireless lock Dean Langdon, also scored vital tries as the Roos staved off a fierce second-half challenge from the revved up Sharks.
The experienced Saunders was a tower of strength in the Roos’ engine room along with Evans, front rower Nick John, Tristan Neil, Caleb and Dean Langdon and former Newcastle Knights powerhouse Jack Langdon.
Mastermind Evans along with his coaching panel of Sean and Jake Langdon deserve special praise for guiding the club to premiership glory.
In a massive team effort, the Roos showed their depth of talent with strong contributions also from centres Kane Thomas and Koby Martyn, winger Isaac Mitchell, halves Croese and halfback Brandon Thompson, and interchange players Rhys Thompson, Steven Soper, Kurt Langdon, Josh White and Kyle Ridgeway.
Karuah’s latest Grand Final win comes 50 years after the mighty 1975 Roos – one of the club’s greatest-ever outfits – were crowned Newcastle Second Division A Grade champions with a 23-12 victory over Gateshead.
By Chris KARAS
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