Eighteen months after he bemoaned that Manilla had "lost before the season started", in reference to the club not fielding a men's side that year, Abel Carney rejoiced after the reborn Tigers won Saturday's reserve-grade grand final.
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The fullback was named man of the match following the 22-18 defeat of Kootingal-Moonbi at Jack Woolaston Oval on Saturday.
The Tigers sat out 2018 due to a lack of players, then regrouped and rose like the proud club they are.
Post-match, Carney said having the Tigers back in action was "massive" for Manilla. As the finale approach, he said the town had been "painted black and gold", with "a couple" of buses ferrying local to the clash.
He continued: "To be successful this year is bloody good for the town ... not having a side last year, and then for this [Tigers] committee to get us up and going again this year [is fantastic]. They've busted their guts to make sure we had everything this year."
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Carney opted to sit out 2018 rather than play for another club. Mitchell Doring, on the other hand, spent 2018 with Kooty, before returning this season as the Tigers' captain-coach. Carney lavished praise on Doring.
"For a young fella to do what he's done [is amazing] ... and he got a lot of locals [playing in the side] ... So it's a real local feel there at the moment."
And bar one game, there has been a winning feeling in Tigerland. But fairy-tale finishes invariably involve a lot of work, and that is what Manilla had to do to beat a Roosters side who was only formed this season.
Kooty opened the scoring via a Dustin Munn field goal, before Carney crossed for the first try of the match and converted it: 6-2.
The Tigers added another converted try when No.18 Ashley Swan muscled his way over the line with just over 15 minutes remaining in the first half.
But it was the Roosters who dominated before the break, crossing twice via winger Tom Gould and rake Brodie Cummins.
The stage was set for an epic second half with the score locked at 12-12 at half-time.
Manilla struck early in the second when their captain-coach and playmaker, Mitchell Doring, stormed over the line: 16-12.
With the Tigers a man down after winger Michael Bevitt was sin-binned, Doring scored one of the tries of the season - running nearly the full length of the field.
Carney converted and the Tigers led 22-12 with 19 minutes left on the clock.
Kootingal-Moonbi wasted no time in replying, when No.6 Leroy Livermore scored a beauty of his own as he broke several tackles. Dustin Munn converted: 22-18.