Ever since Pirates just snuck into the top four, there was a growing feeling of deja vu - in respect to the side's 2012 season. And at Walcha on Saturday, they once again pilfered the premiership from the Rams' grasp, like thieves in the night, to augment their dynasty.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
No club has won four-straight premierships twice.
Pirates did it in 2009-2012. And now again in 2016-2019, after pipping the Rams 26-24 in a heart-stopper.
Prop Andrew Collins was one of two Pirates players given a last-minute reprieve to play after having a one-match suspension overturned [fellow prop Bart Leach was the other]. It was Collins who scored the match-winner, when he burrowed his way through a sea of Walcha jerseys with just over three minutes on the clock.
Wes Rooney added the extras from in front to put Pirates ahead 26-24.
The Rams looked to have blown their chances when the kick-off didn't go 10, but they got one more shot after Pirates were penalised for illegal entry.
But after taking the quick tap then they turned over the ball and Pirates wound down the clock for the last 15 seconds.
The sentiment when Pirates won in 2012 was that that premiership was the hardest of the four-straight titles.
The club feels the same about 2019, in respect to the current sequence of titles.
Pirates coach Mat Kelly said: "People have had to do things that they really never thought they were capable of, and we've spoken about that and it was just great to see there was extra in the tank.
"Although it was running on empty, it didn't conk out on us."
In contrast to the previous three seasons when Pirates were perched atop the table for much of the season, they really had to fight to make the four this year. And Kelly admitted there were times he doubted whether they would be lifting the Heath Shield for a fourth-straight year.
They went into the final round with no guarantee of playing finals football. In the end, they got there by the barest of margins.
PIRATES' ROAD TO THE TITLE:
"But as soon as we got fourth spot in the semis I thought we'll win it," he said.
That conviction was put under scrutiny a few times, but Kelly never wavered. He has time and time again during their reign lauded the character of his side and knew that they would put their bodies on the line for the 80 minutes.
"These boys they're a pretty special bunch and I challenge that there would be a tighter-knit group than what we've got here today. They're nearly brothers to each other," he said.
They're also hungry for more success.
"These boys have still got a few tricks up their sleeves," Kelly said.
"And there's plenty of talk that there's a few extras [players] drifting back in again next year."
He admitted that he had had a few sleepless nights this week as the club fought to have Collins and Leach's suspensions quashed.
"We've had a pretty tough week this week and it was just great to see the boys could come out and make it all worth it."
Things didn't completely go to plan for the club - their potentially golden day threatening to turn black as their under-19s, second grade and women's 7s sides were all beaten, the under-19s and second grade both after finishing minor premiers.
"It was disappointing for our other grades but it's a real club effort just to send it home in first grade so a lot of teams had to sacrifice players to give us the ability to field a strong side," Kelly said.
