The fairytale script was followed to a tee in the NSW Shute Shield final as Warringah capped a season marked by tragedy with a tense 30-25 victory over 2016 champions Northern Suburbs.
There was even a first-half try for Rats forward Sam Ward, whose brother Lachlan passed away in June after collapsing during a lower grade match for the club.
Many will consider the win the club’s first notable silverware in their 54-year history, with their 2005 Shute Shield victory played amid a vastly abridged competition format.
A near capacity crowd added to a festival atmosphere at North Sydney Oval — boosted by some 20 buses from the Warringah region — and the players responded in kind by turning on a hard-running open match.
The two teams swapped the lead on several occasions during the first half with Norths going into the break boasting a 13-12 advantage, a scoreline that that was reflective of two well-match teams.
Both coaches predicted a tight contest and so it proved, but two tries within a matter of minutes before the hour mark from Warringah winger Harry Jones proved decisive.
“There are no words to describe this,” player of the match Jones said.
“I’m speechless about what we have achieved. This is the best rugby moment of my life.”
The match could have been even higher scoring but for some poor goal-kicking from both sides, with Warringah using three different kickers.
The Rats fielded inspirational fly-half Hamish Angus after a three-match absence but his normally strong kicking game was hampered by a heavily strapped quad muscle.
Conor Vest scored a try for Norths between Jones’ efforts to briefly level the contest at 20-all.
But Warringah defied their lack of grand final experience with a confident showing in the latter stages to keep their opponents on the back foot for long periods.
Lachie Creagh scored against the run of play for Norths with a shade under 10 minutes remaining, but Angus Sinclair narrowly missed the conversion from the sideline that would have levelled scores.
A late penalty then provided extra insurance for Warringah.
A large photo of Lachlan Ward was proudly held aloft amid emotional scenes for the Warringah players and supporters.
The match marked Simon Cron’s final outing as Norths coach before he assumes a position role with the NSW Waratahs.
Cron’s stint at the club saw Norths end their own 41-year Shute Shield drought last year.