Chris Bishop admits he was "freaking out" after the Newcastle City's "red hot" start to the men's Black Diamond Cup grand final, but the player-coach "just believed" Terrigal Avoca could come back.
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The Panthers did more than just that at Adelaide Street Oval on Saturday.
Down by 25 after the first quarter, Terrigal Avoca responded with interest and swung momentum dramatically to outscore the Blues by 63 points across the middle two terms.
The Panthers managed to keep City completely scoreless in the second quarter, at one stage landed 48 unanswered points and starved their opponents of a major between the end of the first term and nearing full-time.
In what was their ninth straight grand final appearance, the Panthers collected their sixth crown from that period and successfully defended their title for the first time since 2014-2015.
The Central Coast club also extended their winning streak to 31 straight games, having last suffered a loss in round three of 2019.
"It's amazing and undefeated is unbelievable. The closest game we had [this year before the grand final] was six goals. We're absolutely rapt," Bishop said.
City raced out of the blocks as Aidan Watling kicked three of his side's five goals in the first quarter (34-9).
"It was outstanding and our biggest worry was that they'd get the jump on us, which they have the previous couple of grand finals," Blues coach Tim Cotter said.
"Not only did we hold them, but oh boy did we get a jump on them. You were thinking who is this side and where have they come from?"
However, the Panthers clicked into gear with a slick showing in the second, featuring six majors (51-34). In the next 20 minutes they booted another three without reply, dominated possession and didn't allow City back in the game (75-37).
"It was elite and our leaders stepped up," Bishop said.
James Webster and Luke Bury both kicked doubles for Terrigal Avoca. Elliott Davey Medal recipient Mitchell Price, Corbin Bond, Jason Roach, captain Kurt Fleming, Josh Polglase and the competition's leading goal scorer Harrison Pitt also added their names to the scoresheet.
City's Jack Woodhams landed two majors. Josh Taylor and Conor Haswell also converted.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
