REPORT: Outback Rugby League Grand Final

As the name suggests the Outback Rugby League competition in far west New South Wales is probably the epitome of bush footy. 

Played on fields in towns located in the middle of the desert, the game is tough, the fields are hard and there is plenty of ‘passion'. 

The ORL wrapped up its season at the weekend with junior and senior grand finals. The league incorporates a total of seven teams from Broken Hill, Wilcannia and Menindee. 

Broken Hill (essentially the middle of nowhere on the NSW/SA border, check it out on a map) is represented by Saints, Geebungs (still not sure what a Geebung is either) and the recently re-established United. Neighbouring town Wilcannia (pop. 600, 196km east of Broken Hill) fields the Boomerangs and Warriors, while Menindee (pop. roughly 600, 112kms south-east) is represented by the Yabbies and Wedge-Tailed Eagles. It's a more-than-healthy number considering the population of the three towns involved.

The fact that towns of that size are able to field two teams highlights the importance of the game in those communities. For instance, I spoke to a bloke who travelled from Sydney to play a game. Just a casual 2,300km round trip. 

The competition originally had group status but folded at the end of the 1997 season and was reincarnated as the ORL ten years later.

But that's a story for another time.

All the attention was on the 2014 decider between the Boomerangs and Geebungs. The ‘Boomers', as they're affectionately know, went into the game having lost the past two grand finals. On the other side, the ‘Bungers' were the fairytale story of the competition. Having snuck into fourth place in the final round, they walked the elimination finals tightrope to get to the final.

The stands were filled with squawking supporters from both side decked out in everything from wigs to onesies. 

Though, comparatively (last year's decided had to be called off early when a mass brawl erupted) the grand final was a rather timid affair.
Wilcannia were the more composed side, skipping to a 20-6 lead at halftime and holding on to win 34-18 despite three straight tries from Geebungs.

Boomerangs' five-eighth Trevor Harris, given the captaincy despite being the youngest player in the team, said the victory was huge for his community. 

"Our supporters just love rugby league," he said. 

"Regardless of where we're playing, they come and get behind us and we couldn't have gotten across the line without them."

As is often the case with sport in Broken Hill, the post-game trophy presentation had a slight twist. After accepting his grand final medal, Wilcannia's Jamin Whyman promptly got down on one knee and proposed to his long term girlfriend.

She said yes, they kissed and I reckon Whyman would still be on cloud nine. 

It was a nice touch at the end of a rough-and-tumble encounter.