RUGBY LEAGUE
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GUNNEDAH five-eighth Joey Griffiths captained the Australian Aboriginal Under 23s to a Test win over the BARLA British Lions in front of his home Kitchener Park crowd on Saturday to claim the Perpetual Trophy for the first time.
The young indigenous side led from start to finish to run out 50-24 winners.
"It's probably the best achievement of my career," Griffiths said.
"It was the best feeling when that siren went, because I knew we'd got the cup. It was the best moment of my life."
Griffiths' side played some sparkling football to lead
24-nil early and held off a British fight-back.
"They were a gutsy side, so full credit to them," Griffiths said.
"They came back at us in the second half. It was just the hype in that first 20 minutes. I don't know, it was just one of those things. We just played really well."
Griffiths' dad Wayne was the side's assistant coach and a driving force in Gunnedah winning the chance to stage the historic clash.
"All my family was here watching," Joey Griffiths said.
"That was the best thing, to play in front of them, especially to win it."
The 21-year-old skipper said his whole side performed well, but made special mention of a few standouts, including vice captain and halfback Peter Taylor, the former Farrer schoolboy and now Sydney Rooster.
"Our front rowers really stood up and Peter Taylor directed the side around the park," he said.
"He was really good. And Casey Conway was great from the back."
Taylor scored two tries for the Aboriginal side, as did centre Moses Alone.
Other top performers included Coonabarabran's Matt Watton, hooker Justin Miller and Walgett's North Sydney Bears lock Matt Rose.
British coach Mick Turner was disappointed with the loss and said his side failed to match the talented locals early and never recovered.
"I think we got beat by the better side on the day," he said.
"They played some exceptional rugby. It took us 20 minutes to wake up. We came back at them, but just tired."
The Poms must wait two years for a chance to regain the trophy they held since 1997.
