What a couple of weeks it has been for the Hawks.

Last Saturday our A Grade side won the Metro Open Mens Gold Premiership (A Grade 1st Division), another significant milestone for the club.

It has been more than three decades since the Hawks last won an A Grade 1st Division Premiership, so to see this group finish as Minor Premiers and then go on and win the Premiership is an outstanding achievement.

We are extremely proud of the players, coaches and staff involved. It’s another sign of where the club is heading and something everyone involved with the Hawks should be very proud of.

Now we have the opportunity to do it again.

Tomorrow our Ron Massey Cup side plays St Mary’s in the 2026 Grand Final at Campbelltown Stadium.

RYDE EASTWOOD HAWKS vs ST MARY’S
Saturday 5th September
3:00pm Kick Off
Campbelltown Stadium

We would absolutely love to see as many of you out there supporting the boys as possible.

We take on St Mary’s, the defending Premiers, and we know they will have plenty of support there. Hopefully we can get a big Hawks contingent together and make plenty of noise of our own.

If you can’t make it to Campbelltown, the game will also be streamed live on BarTV Sports, so you can still get behind the boys from wherever you are.

WATCH LIVE:
https://www.bartvsports.com.au/rugby-league/260905-video-ron-massey-cup-grand-final-st-marys-v-hawks/

This Grand Final means a lot to our club.

The last time Ryde Eastwood won a Premiership at this level was back in 2000.

Since then there have been countless training sessions, hundreds of players, coaches, trainers, volunteers and staff who have all played their part in trying to get the Hawks back to the success the club enjoyed through the late 90’s and early 2000’s.

Tomorrow we get that opportunity.

It’s something we’ve been building towards for a long time and something everyone involved with the club should be proud to be a part of.

If you can make it, get out to Campbelltown, wear your Hawks colours and get behind the boys.

AFTER THE GAME

We would also love to invite all of our Old Boys back to the Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club from 7:00pm tomorrow night.

Regardless of the result, it has been a wonderful season for the club and one that deserves to be celebrated together.

We’ve already celebrated an A Grade Premiership and two Minor Premierships.

Hopefully tomorrow night we’ll be celebrating one more Premiership as well!

Go the Hawks!

Regards,

Michael Frain

NSWRL

St Marys Saints will be aiming to become only the second club to claim both the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield in the same season when they take the field for their respective Grand Finals at Campbelltown Stadium tomorrow (Saturday 5 September).

Saints, who will take on Mounties in the Sydney Shield and Ryde-Eastwood Hawks in the Ron Massey Cup, will be looking to add more premierships to their trophy cabinet. They won the Ron Massey Cup last year and in 2023, and the Sydney Shield in 2017 and 2022.

The last club to win both titles in the same season was Wenty Magpies in 2012 – which was also the inaugural season for the Sydney Shield.

“It would be a massive achievement if we do end up winning both grades, it’ll be a big day for the club,” Ron Massey Cup St Marys captain Joe Vaegaau said.

“To repay ‘Ads’ (St Marys Rugby League Manager Adam Przybyla), who’s our management there and the people on the board as well. It would mean a great deal to them, but it will also mean a great deal to us as well to try and get the two.”

Saints claimed the Minor Premiership from 2023-25 but relinquished the title to the Hawks this season. They still had the best attack (590) and the best defence (382) of all teams and dropped only four games all season.

The Hawks were on a roll heading into the finals after winning nine consecutive games before losing the Major Semi-final 44-16 to the Saints. They regrouped in the Preliminary Final to beat Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20-16 to earn their place in the decider and will be looking to turn the tables to claim the club’s maiden premiership.

In the Sydney Shield, Saints have been a dominant force in the competition after going through the regular season undefeated with their worst result being a 22-all draw against Hills Bulls back in Round One in April.

They amassed 628 points in attack whilst conceding only 234 points in defence. The next best was their Grand Final opponents, with Mounties scoring 590 points in attack and only conceding 366.

Saints will be hoping to add to their collection of Sydney Shield premierships after winning the competition in 2022 and 2017 while Mounties are chasing their first title.

They will need to find a way to overcome the Minor Premiers after losing twice to them in the regular season – 40-26 in Round Nine and 48-22 in Round 18 – but they bring strong form into the decider after scoring a decisive 66-18 win over Wenty in the Preliminary Final.

Mounties captain Ryan Jeffery, who was named Sydney Shield Player of the Year at the Brad Fittler Medal on Monday night, said they had been working on improving areas of their game but added they would need to be at their best to topple Saints.

“They’re the team to beat, they’ve been undefeated all year,” Jeffery said.

“We’re going to have our work cut out but I’m sure the boys will be ready to go.”

Click here to purchase tickets for the 2026 Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup and Sydney Shield Grand Final Day.

Click here for the full article.

Enjoy an authentic Malaysian buffet packed with favourites including curries, rendang, noodles, satay and traditional desserts, accompanied by the sweet sounds of Malaysia is coming to Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club.

It’s the perfect night to get together with teammates, friends and family and enjoy some fantastic food and entertainment.

Bookings close Sunday 6 September – limited spaces remain!
https://www.trybooking.com/DNZVO

We’d love to see you there!

2026 BRAD FITTLER MEDAL AWARD WINNERS
Brad Fittler Medal (presented by Westpac): Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
True Blue Award (presented by Westpac): Hudson Young (Canberra Raiders)
The Daily Telegraph People’s Choice Award: Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers), Jesse Southwell (Brisbane Broncos)
NSW Blues Women’s State of Origin Player of the Year (presented by Westpac): Yasmin Meakes (Newcastle Knights)
NSW Blues Women’s Award (presented by Westpac): Ellie Johnston (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
NSW Under 19s State of Origin Player of the Match (presented by GIO): Diesel Hagan (Newcastle Knights)
NSW Under 19s Women’s State of Origin Player of the Match (presented by Westpac): Anastasia Leatupue (Sydney Roosters)
The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup Player of the Year (presented by Transport for NSW): Jaxen Edgar (Penrith Panthers)
NSW Women’s Premiership Player of the Year: Charley Lahmert (Newcastle Knights)
Jersey Flegg Cup Player of the Year:Eden Hodges (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Cup Player of the Year (presented by Leagues Clubs Australia): Joe Lovodua (Ryde-Eastwood Hawks)
Sydney Shield Player of the Year: Ryan Jeffery (Mounties)
Men’s Country Championship Player of the Year: Luke Huth (Newcastle Rebels)
Women’s Country Championship Player of the Year: Jayda Cohen (Northern Tigers)
Tom Nelson Medal for SLE Laurie Daley Cup Player of the Year: Cohen Aitken (Northern Rivers Titans)
Ron Lanesbury Medal for SLE Andrew Johns Cup Player of the Year: Joel Trevethan (Monaro Colts)
Grade Referee of the Year (presented by McDonald’s): Kieren Irons
Junior Representative Referee of the Year (presented by McDonald’s): Liam O’Brien
Ray Stellar Club Person of the Year (presented by Hyundai): Nyke “Aaron” Zammit (Glebe Dirty Reds) and Mark Madden (North Sydney Bears)
Gordon Lowrie Memorial Community Volunteer of the Year Award (presented by Westpac): Kevin Whitford (Milton Ulladulla)

Relive the highlights from the 2026 Brad Fittler Medal here, celebrating the outstanding achievements, memorable moments and people who helped shape another remarkable season of rugby league in New South Wales.

NSWRL: Tom Gibbs

Hawks earn chance at redemption with narrow win

Ryde-Eastwood Hawks will get an opportunity to avenge their Major Semi-final loss to St Marys when they face the Saints in the Leagues Clubs Australia Ron Massey Grand Final, having beaten Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 20-16 in Saturday’s Preliminary Final.

The 2026 Minor Premiers needed to find their top-of-the-table form once again if they were to force their way into the decider, and they did just that with opening two tries of the contest.

Winger Anthony Raheb was first to score when he found himself on the end of a cross-field kick by Eiden Ackland, then Ackland set up the next try with a floating ball for Esera Chee-Kam on the other wing. Ben Stevanovic converted on both occasions to lead 12-0.

The Bulldogs soon replied with a pair of quick tries via an acrobatic finish from Jope Rauqe, then a rampaging run by Corey Ackers to help bring the deficit back to 12-10. But the Hawks turned momentum back in their favour when Chee-Kam crossed for his second try to give Ryde-Eastwood a 16-10 advantage at half-time.

The second half remained scoreless until the 66th minute when Rauqe brought the Dogs back into the contest by toeing the ball through to score in the corner, before halfback Damon Humphrys kicked a successful conversion to even the scores making it anyone’s game in the final exchanges.

Yet the Hawks managed to find a way back in front after a left-edge shift ended up in the hands of Raheb at speed, bursting through his opposite winger and fullback in cover to score. Despite a missed conversion attempt, the Hawks’ defence stayed strong for the remain nine minutes to seal the 20-16 win.

Click here for Ron Massey Cup Preliminary Final Highlights

Click here to buy tickets for Grand Final day at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday 5 September.

For the full article on NSWRL News, click here.