Jack Alcorn lining up a Goldie.
Who doesn’t like the Neil Young song ‘Heart of Gold’? That’s what was playing after the Boorowa Goldies defeated the Harden Red Devils 10-8 on Saturday in the big dance. Well, for most Devil’s players and supporters it probably isn’t looked upon as fondly as it’s the song the Goldies sing when victorious. And that victory came against the men in red.
The Red Devils will be back to the drawing board after going so close two seasons in a row making the Grand Final and losing it to Boorowa on Boorowa’s home turf.
Harden has been the form side all year, however, both Boorowa and Harden faulted away to Coota in the latter stages of the regular comp.
Harden stepped up at home and dispatched the Tri Colours who were coming home with a strong wet sail and booked their place against Boorowa, but the Devils couldn’t get over the line in what was the most physical match of 2026.
During his speech after the match, Harden Coach Jack Alcorn praised the quality of the match, “Congratulations Boorowa. It was probably one of the toughest games we’ve played in a long time, and you guys through the season and to end the season.”
“To our boys. That’s a bloody tough loss, especially when we worked so hard for it this year, but we will keep our heads up and get back into it next year. With the scoreline like that, hopefully we’ll be back at it giving it a crack, and hopefully raising the trophy.
“I’d love to thank the match officials, and all our supporters for the whole year.”
“You guys, this looks like a big crowd for Harden. A huge thanks to you guys and hopefully we can get to the end next year.”
Harden’s First Grade Grand Final wins have amounted to 4 this century and were all earmarked by exceptional squads. The 04 win over Cooma at Cooma when the competition had two grades and saw a contingent of 5 Samoan/Kiwi imports in to positions Harden was struggling to compete at.
Some of that skill-set and polish from the Auckland based semi professionals rubbed off two years later when Harden defeated Goulburn and recruited a Second Rower and an electrifying game breaking centre in Duke Matahiki, who often found himself called offside by referees who couldn’t believe how fast he was off the mark.
2018 and 2020 saw exceptional and once in a generation players play with squads built around them. Jacob Taylor played Rugby 7s for Australia, Adam Walsh (Coached 2018) an Australian schoolboy continued on and played some of his best footy, Shahid Khalfan and Ben Lenehan notched up appearances for NSW Country and former Brumby and Wallaby Hooker Josh Mann-Rea joined the side after retiring from professional footy, where after testing his knee out after coming back from a reconstruction, looked like he was playing against boys. Jack O’Connor (Coached 2020) and who was there for a long period was unlucky not to play NSW Country and was the best man manager the club has seen.
There’s plenty more who contributed and came together, these are just a few.
What will the Devils do in 2027?
The year is long and the nights are cold. Will they look to test the player market which could bring fresh skills, ideas and rub off on the younger players as proven in the past or forge ahead?
Christian Johnson will soar in 2027 if he stays at it and the club has a wealth of experience.
A two point loss is hard to take. The upside is that neither side (Boorowa or Harden) has what you would call an out and out game breaker. A Danny Flanery! someone who could turn nothing in to something, throw a 25 metre cut out pass and land it, kick a 50 metre torpedo and get the ball to land on its point to bounce back to him.
Break a tackle or two or upend a cocky forward who thought they would run over him.
Ed McGeoch is definitely the closet thing to it for Harden, but was injured. For Boorowa, Keagan Size is a formidable forward who can break a game 10 metres out or stop you dead in your tracks if you run at him.
The Grand Final match was a dour and physical affair. Close and edge of your seat footy.
Congratulations to both local sides for doing their best again in another year of local rugby.
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