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Newcastle Herald

National

Renee Valentine

Quick plays: All you need to know from a weekend of sport in Newcastle

Hamilton (Organization) Merewer No2 Sportsground Rugby Belmont Toronto Rugby Union Marina Neil Baseball Broadmeadow Magic

Hunter Rugby Union grand final between Merewether and Hamilton at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday. Picture by Marina Neil

Newcastle Baseball first-grade grand final between Toronto and Belmont at Miller Field. Picture by Marina Neil

NPLM NNSW preliminary final action between Lambton Jaffas and Broadmeadow Magic at Magic Park on Sunday. Picture: Marina Neil

It was a finals feast for Newcastle sports fans over the weekend, capped off by the heroic Newcastle Knights' NRLW side sealing an historic first grand final appearance.

In their second season, the Knights women have gone from wooden spooners to championship contenders.

They are set to face Parramatta in this weekend's title decider after a dominant 30-6 win over the Dragons in the semi-finals in Brisbane on Sunday.

The performance came after the Knights' Jersey Flegg team had gone painstakingly close to clinching their first title since 1992.

Newcastle suffered a one-point loss to Penrith in golden point extra time at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta on Sunday.

The question raised by Newcastle Herald sports editor Robert Dillon over the weekend was how many of these talented Knights' Jersey Flegg players will go on to become first-graders in the town's NRL side.

Greens Day Out

Merewether overpowered Hamilton in the Hunter Rugby Union grand final at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday afternoon, claiming their first premiership in 11 years.

Greens coach Jamie Lind described his players as "heroes" post-match, saying, "A lot of these kids, all they have ever wanted to do was win a premiership for Merewether."

It was a dream come true for former Merewether ballboy Eli McCulloch, who scored the Greens' only try in their 19-7 victory.

The result may have ended Hamilton's five-year reign but Hawks coach Marty Breen felt the future looked bright.

Meanwhile, Maitland's back-rower collected his second Anderson Medal to continue the club's domination of the best and fairest award.

Tigers prevail in extra inning

It took a 10^th inning and was three years in the making, but Toronto beat perennial powerhouse Belmont in the Newcastle Baseball first-grade grand final at Miller Field on Sunday to collect their fourth consecutive premiership.

Belmont were playing in a remarkable 30th consecutive first-grade grand final but could not mark the occasion with glory.

The one-run win came in an extra inning after the two teams were locked at 6-6 following the ninth.

Grand finalists determined

Newcastle Olympic joined Warners Bay in another grand final showdown after beating Broadmeadow 3-1 in the NPLW Northern NSW preliminary final at Magic Park on Saturday night.

Olympic finished fourth but have survived two sudden death finals to line up what will be a repeat of the 2020 championship decider, which was won by Olympic.

The women's grand final will be played at No.2 Sportsground this Sunday (5pm) after the men's match (2pm).

Lambton and Maitland are set to face off for NPLM NNSW glory after Jaffas ended Magic's season in their preliminary final at Magic Park on Sunday.

Pickers cap off stellar 2022

The Maitland Pickers are again the toast of NSW Rugby League clubs, securing back-to-back state titles with a 36-12 victory over Sydney side Hills Bulls in Sunday's end-of-season conference final at CommBank Stadium.

Coach Matt Lantry felt they "hung tough", captain Alex Langbridge reckons they "rose to the occasion" and gamebreaker Matt Soper-Lawler simply said they "never gave up".

Meanwhile, Central halfback Luke Walsh has been named Newcastle Rugby League player of the year for the second time in his career.

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