Valley Hunters make a three-peat

The SWG TSI Valley Hunters claimed their third consecutive Pepsi Capital Rugby Union (CRU) title after edging past the Supreme Industries Harlequins with a 16-13 victory in the Men’s Premier Grade Grand Final on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at Sir John Guise Stadium. 

With the Valley Hunters and Harlequins meeting in the CRU Premier Division decider for the first time, this match-up promised a thrilling finish, which delivered a physical, high-octane clash that went down to the wire.

The match kicked off with high intensity, setting the tone for a bruising 80-minute contest. The Harlequins were penalized inside their 22-meter line twice, with the Valley Hunters opting for two successful goals and leading by 6 points.

A few minutes later, the jokers returned the favor with two unconverted tries, overtaking the Valley men on 10-6. As the minutes wore down, the defending champions bagged an unconverted try, leading the Harlequins by 11-10.

The brutal, high-stakes affair reached its climax in the second half, with both sides tightening their defense and searching for points. The Valley Hunters registered an unconverted try, while the Harlequins kicked a 3-point penalty goal, with the reigning premiers retaining the top honors. 

Harlequins had 51% possession and dominated the field position with approximately 73% of play in the Valley Hunters’ half, but failed to capitalize and punish the SWG TSI-sponsored club.  

On the flip side, the Valley Hunters had 49% possession and fewer field territory, but managed to score two tries and nailed two penalty kicks. Their relentless defense helped them hold off the gallant Harles. 

Coach Frank Genia admitted that it was a scrappy win against the youthful Billy Rapilla-coached outfit, attributing the victory to the team's mental toughness and bonding throughout the season.  

“I’ll be honest, we were not at our best, but the character the boys showed sums up our whole season. We did not play our best, but to come up with a win against a young quality side like the Harles shows how good we are,” Genia said.

“We are a very close-knit team. No blood connections here, but we are close like family. It's the connection, the character, and the willingness to work hard for each other from the pre-season to the grand final that won us the game.” 

The coach added that they were clunky at times, crediting his men’s defensive resolve to counter the Harlequins’ attack and keep them at bay when the jesters of Bava Park were in their 22-meter line.  

“I think our work rate in defense stood out, particularly in transition,” Genia explained after the Valley Hunters were put under immense pressure in crucial moments of the clash. 

“We knew they would kick a lot, sometimes strategically and sometimes aimlessly, so we worked really hard on backtracking, transitioning back to defense, and getting back into position and starting to play a bit of footy. 

“We hurt ourselves at times. We didn’t execute the set piece and struggled in the scrum, but the boys didn’t shut down and continued to tackle until the final whistle.” 

Genia said this year’s team comprised a mix of youth and experience, highlighting sustainability and mentioning that some players joined from other clubs, with most coming through the Valley Hunters’ junior grades. 

“This season has been a transition year for us, where we’ve got some new players coming through and joining us from other clubs,” he explained.

“The pleasing thing for us is that a lot of players who played today come through our A Grade, and one or two from the B Grade.

“For us to be sustainable, we have to start developing these young talents coming through our system and creating opportunities for them to play in the Premier Division. I’m really happy for them.” 

The SWG TSI Valley Hunters received the dreaded wooden spoon in 2023. Coach Frank Genia and brother Will Genia joined the wooden spooners in 2024. Genias turned the club’s fortunes around, winning three consecutive premierships (2024-2026) and becoming a dominant force in the CRU competition.