Waratah-Mayfield have won a third consecutive A-grade premiership in the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League, downing Cardiff 30-0 at Lakeside Sports Complex on Saturday.
The Cheetahs, after defeating Raymond Terrace (2024) and Dudley (2025) in recent years, totally outplayed minor premiers Cardiff at the Raymond Terrace venue.
They led 14-0 at the end of an entertaining first half and ran away with it late in the second.
The Cobras, despite their best efforts, couldn't strike a blow. They smashed Waratah 36-6 a fortnight earlier in the major semi-final, but simply couldn't split them in the decider.
They were their own worst enemy, struggling to build momentum due to repeat errors.
Waratah made the most of their opportunities in a fast-flowing opening 20 minutes, winger Daniel Ellis dashing over for a seventh-minute opener.
Greg Morris-Davis caught a bomb to set up Waratah's second try nine minutes later, the centre passing to back-rower Kyle Simon who scored behind the goal-posts.
Morris-Davis then barged over himself from dummy-half in the 36th minute to put Waratah up by 14.
Five-eighth Jacob Payne made a silky run off a scrum to score about 10 minutes into the second half, helping Waratah to a commanding 20-0 lead.
Interchange forward Liufau Fonua crossed from close range to spark wild celebrations with Waratah's supporters at the Grahamstown Dam end of the ground with about 10 minutes left to play, before Chayce Bambach burrowed over from dummy-half in the 76th minute.
Waratah are the first team to win three consecutive grand finals since the Newcastle and Hunter Rugby League was formed in 2007. Dora Creek claimed three consecutive premierships across 2021-23, a period which included two COVID-shortened seasons.
Newcastle City have qualified for a fourth-straight men's Black Diamond Cup grand final and will meet Killarney Vale in a decider for the first time since 2007.
City 20.16 (136) blew Nelson Bay 2.7 (19) away at Max McMahon Oval in Rutherford on Saturday to progress to the biggest game of the season.
It continued their undefeated run this season, now a 17-game streak. Jordan Dear kicked a game-high four goals.
Incredibly, it will be City's 16th appearance in the 20 grand finals to have been played since 2006.
They won back-to-back premierships in 2023-24 before losing to Terrigal-Avoca Panthers last year.
The Panthers 10.9 (69) fell short against Killarney Vale Bombers 17.10 (112) at Adelaide Street Oval in the other semi-final on Saturday.
The Bombers, last premiers in 2022, were too strong on home turf in a physical clash between the Central Coast rivals.
Newcastle City and Killarney Vale last met in a men's grand final in 2007.
It is the only decider the sides have played since the Newcastle and Central Coast competitions merged in 2000.
In the women's Black Diamond Cup, minor premiers Killarney Vale and Newcastle City will once again face off in next week's grand final.
Killarney Vale 5.5 (35), who defeated City last year, will be chasing a third consecutive premiership after holding off Terrigal-Avoca 4.7 (31) on Saturday in their semi-final at Adelaide Street Oval.
City 6.8 (44) easily accounted for Cardiff 1.3 (9) at Max McMahon Oval.
Newcastle City defeated Killarney Vale in three consecutive grand finals, premiers in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
