He has been one of the key architects of Walcha's recent ascendancy and on Saturday Simon Newton finally got the premiership triumph he has been chasing with the Rams for almost a decade.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Regarded as one of the finest to have pulled on the red and white, for the five-eighth/inside centre it hadn't just been three years of grand final pain.
He was one of two players to have also been part of the Rams side that lost to Pirates in the 2012 grand final.
READ ALSO:
Ed Cordingley was the other, the two fittingly combining to restore their advantage beyond a try after the Harbour Knights had struck early in the second half to close within a point.
After initially getting the Rams on the front foot with a strong carry from deep within their half, a couple of phases later Newton drew in the Knights winger and freed up Cordingley, who had too much pace.
Newton cut a pretty busted figure after what was a "good hard game", but beneath the winces there was a sense of achievement, and delight, and a bit of relief too.
"I think that last five minutes could have gone either way," he said.
Clinging to a five point lead for the last 10 minutes it was hard not to think about the last few years, especially what happened last year.
"When they kept coming at us it was a bit like dejavu a little bit, it felt," Newton said.
"But we just had the brains there to turn it over and turn that possession they had into ours through defence and hold onto the ball."
It was a tough and willing contest and Newton said he was "gassed" and "just wanting it to be over" in those final few minutes. He wasn't alone but the Rams just kept turning up and making the tackles and taking the runs.
"We took a few options early on, just took a few points (penalties)," Newton said.
"Like always we still made plenty of mistakes, as they did, but we just managed to stick with it and hold out."
The first time the Rams have won the Sawers Shield since 1953, it wasn't for Newton.
"I was fortunate to win a few back at college (with St Alberts)," he said.
"And I was lucky enough to win one in Central North (with Inverell)."
"But the Central North one for Walcha has sort of evaded us."
The core of the side has been there for the heartbreak of the last three years. It made it that bit more special to finally be able to share some premiership success together.
"It was nice to get a bit of silverware," he said.
"And good to just play a bit more rugby."
First grade's success was the culmination of what was overall a great year for the club.
"A big pat on the back to put three grades on the park this year," Newton said.
"I couldn't believe we had the players that we did and being competitive right through."
All three grades made the finals with second grade falling just a game short of the grand final and third grade bowing out in the minor semi-final.
