This game had plenty riding on it. This game had history. This game had the last two premiers locked in mortal combat. Last year these two sides met in a quarter final at this very ground, and the Maulers stunned the league world by getting up. Wellington went on to win the premiership. Could North Melbourne do it again?

Wellington Cougars North Melbourne Maulers
1 Anthony Minichiello 1 Andrew Walker
2 Ben Tune 2 Marc Barctholomeusz
3 John Sitizein 3 Hefin O'Hare
4 Clinton Toopi 4 Mark Calderwood
5 Timana Tahu 5 Joven Clarke
6 Trent Barrett 6 Scott Hill ©
7 Brent Sherwin © 7 Anthony Mundine
8 Jerry Seu Seu 8 Robbie Kearns
9 Jeremy Paul 9 Dominik Bush
10 Paul Stringer 10 Brian Randall
11 Jamie Peacock 11 Joe Galavao
12 Mike Forshaw 12 Nathan Long
13 Kevin Sinfield 13 Paul Sculthorpe
++Interchange
14 Ruben Wiki 14 Kris Tassel
15 Blaze Wilson 15 Desi Kadima
16 Michael Eager 16 Paul Wellens
17 Justin Holbrook 17 Matt Bickerstaff

It was obvious from the outset just why these two sides have won premierships. Wellington’s no-nonsense defence, lead by a horde of English stars, clashing with the inventive attacking style of the Maulers. Fans were treated to the best of both worlds as the two sides exchanged blows early on. First it was ‘The Man’ Mundine showing why he represented NSW this year with some broken field running. Then it was Jamie Peacock proving himself as the most promising young Brit with an eighty metre bust.

Whilst both sides had good chances, it was Maulers’ captain Paul Sculthorpe who made the first real offensive move, chipping ahead when he saw Minichiello too far back. He collected, but was dragged down by the classy Italian. Mini produced a stunning one on one rake, but lost it in turn when he was hit by Robbie Kearns. A set in Wellington territory paid immediate dividends, Nathan Long crashing over on true grit to score the opener. Walker missed the conversion, and the 2002 premiers were up 4-0.

The match proved to be a classic encounter as the clock wound on, the next fifteen minutes showcasing two fine football sides. 2002 Grand Final hero, Andrew Walker, was at his quicksilver best as he constantly eluded the defence of Tahu and Toopi, and it was Trent Barret who was firing for Wellington with a devestating array of short passes and strategic kicks.

For all of their possession and attacking flare, the Cougars couldn’t seem to find a chink in North Melbourne’s armour. In their Grand Final win, the Maulers drew on some spirited defence to hold out the fast finishing Crusade, and they were doing it again today- much to the frustration of the reigning premiers.

Wellington finally got on the board in the 32nd, and it was a show of respect to North Melbourne’s defence when Sinfield opted for a shot at goal despite having already had two sets on the Maulers’ line. It was a successful kick, the home side down 4-2 heading into the break.

The penalty proved to be the fuse that lead to the explosion, and from the kick-off the Cougars finally put on a try for their fans. A solid attacking set, full of bullocking runs, ended with Clinton Toopi scoring out wide from a Brent Sherwin bullet pass. Sinfield hit the conversion to put his side up 8-4. In a matter of minutes the face of the game had changed drastically, and heads were dropping in the Maulers’ camp.

The Cougars threatened to do it all over again from the kick-off, and it was again Toopi who was the catalyst. The try scoring freak toed the ball ahead, and although Walker was there, he was met by the shoulder of Toopi to force a line drop out. The ensuing set was the complete opposite of its predecessor, the Cougars reverting to the same lacklustre play that had kept them scoreless for the first half hour. A poor last option, the ball put up by Justin Holbrook, ended the half on a down note.

HALFTIME: Wellington 8 lead North Melbourne 4

It’s so often the case the the halftime break proves to be a death-blow for one side, and it seemed to be a true story when the Cougars came out firing and the Maulers struggled to compete with their fast play the balls. A penalty for off-side started a movement, and Jeremy Paul finished it with a weaving run from fifteen out for Wellington’s second try. Sinfield continued his good form with the boot, and the home side lead 14-4 after 42 minutes.

The game looked over for North Melbourne in the 46th when Anthony Minichiello out-leapt Dominik Bush to score in the corner. Thankfully for the visitors, Minichiello was ruled offside, and the Maulers had another chance to get back into the game. Things seemed to go North Melbourne’s way when Hefin O’Hare muscled John Sitizien into touch, but it seemed Wellington had an answer to every question, Jamie Peacock taking advantage of some slow defence from the scrum to score out wide. Sinfield proved human, but at 18-4, the Maulers looked like their 2003 season was headed to an ignoble end.

Sculthorpe and Mundine returned to the field to stem the flow of points and maybe put some on the board themselves, but even their class was no match for Wellington’s English muscle. Forshaw got a short pass from ten out, crashed over Andrew Walker, and scored Wellington’s fourth. Sinfield was unable to convert it, 22-4, and it looked like the Cougars were out to repeat the kind of result they achieved against Manly in last year’s major semi final.

The season was over, well and truly, for the Maulers when Paul Sculthorpe badly rolled his ankle from the kick-off. Time off was called, and the team doctor confirmed the worst, the English captain had done some serious damage and would play no further part in the contest. Without their captain and play-maker, the Maulers would only be able to go about damage reduction.

In the 65th, however, the Maulers gave their side the slimmest hope of a draw and possible win. Rookie front rower, Brian Randell, capped a marvellous final few rounds by combining with his fellow junior, Dominik Bush, to score a much needed try. Bush’s long pass found Randell, who put a devestating hit on Timana Tahu to score. Walker was able to convert this time, the Maulers down 22-10 with fifteen to go. A football miracle would be needed, but anything’s possible in a game of league. Especially a final.

The miracle didn’t come, and when Anthony Minichiello scored a well deserved try in the 77th, it was over for the Maulers at 26-10. It had been a spirited effort, but the class of Wellington showed.

FULLTIME
Wellington 26
Anthony Minichiello
Clinton Toopi
Mike Forshaw
Jamie Peacock
Jeremy Paul
Sinfield 3/6
def.
North Melbourne 10
Nathan Long
Brian Randell
Walker 1/2

PoM Points
Clinton Toopi 3
Trent Barret 2
Anthony Minichiello 1

:kicking: Go the Cougs :kicking:

Barrett actually done something <_<