The Harden Hawks league tag team wrote another chapter in their remarkable success story on Saturday, defeating the North Canberra Bears 18-0 in the George Tooke Shield grand final to secure yet another premiership.
Since joining the George Tooke Shield in 2009, the Harden-Murrumburrah club has built a proud record across both men’s and league tag grades. The men’s side claimed premierships in 2009 and 2017 while finishing as runners-up on six occasions (2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2024 and 2025). The league tag team, which entered the competition in the mid-2010s, has been even more prolific. Prior to 2026 they had won seven titles (2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and lost three grand finals (2014, 2015 and 2017). Saturday’s win over the Bears made it eight premierships and three losses since the side began contesting the Shield.
The 2026 decider followed a familiar script for anyone who has watched the Hawks in recent matches. Harden controlled the contest from the opening whistle. The Bears unable to find a way through a well-organised defensive line that has been the hallmark of the club for years.
The second half brought more of the same, the Hawkettes added two further tries and two penalty goals while the Bears were held scoreless. The final scoreline of 18-0 reflected the gulf in execution on the day. The Bears, who had finished the regular season strongly and pushed Harden hard in earlier encounters, simply could not match the pace and structure of the premiers.
The result was no surprise to those who follow the competition. Harden had sat atop the league tag ladder for most of the 2026 season, combining an imposing attack with the sharp defence that has become their trademark. Georgia Smith’s try-scoring haul throughout the year underlined the threat she poses every time she receives the ball. Being named top try scorer in 2026 and Best and Fairest alongside Emma James who was named top points scorer for the season at recent awards.
North Canberra arrived at the grand final as worthy opponents. The Bears had been one of the form sides of the second half of the season and possessed dangerous attackers of their own, including Kaylee Charlton. Yet they found no answer to Harden’s organisation and hunger. The Hawks’ ability to score first and then shut the game down has been a feature of their recent grand final appearances, and Saturday was no exception.
The win continues a golden period for the Harden club. After the men’s side claimed the Shield in their first season in the competition in 2009, the league tag team has taken the baton and run with it. Seven titles in the ten completed seasons before 2026 already placed them well clear of any other side. Adding an eighth in 2026 against a competitive Bears outfit only strengthens that claim.
Club officials and players spoke afterwards of the satisfaction that comes from sustaining success over such a long period. Many of the current squad have been together for several seasons, creating the kind of understanding that is difficult for opponents to break down. The coaching staff have also maintained consistency, allowing the group to refine their systems year after year.
Emma James spoke on field after the match, “The Bears are a damn hot side and have some great players and had a fantastic campaign in 2026 competition and what better way to end the season with a red hot match in Harden, so thanks girls.”
“From Coach Georgia, Clare and I, we love you girls, we know how hard we worked at training, there’s nothing more than you girls deserve than to have a medal around your neck at the end of the year, so well done girls.”
For the broader George Tooke Shield community the result confirmed what most already knew: the Harden Hawks league tag team remains the side to beat. Their record since entering the competition — eight premierships won and three lost — stands as the benchmark. Saturday’s performance against North Canberra was simply the latest demonstration of that standard.
The celebrations in Harden and Murrumburrah will continue for some time. Another premiership medal has been added to an already crowded collection, and another group of players has experienced the joy of finishing the season on top. For a club that joined the George Tooke Shield in 2009 and has now spent more than a decade at or near the summit of the league tag competition, the 2026 triumph felt both familiar and special.
As the players posed with the Shield once more, the message was clear. The Hawks are not finished yet. With a settled squad and a winning culture firmly established, they will again start next season as the team everyone else must chase. For now, though, they can enjoy the moment — another grand final victory, another premiership, and another reminder that in the George Tooke Shield league tag competition, Harden remains the gold standard.
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