Southern Inland Football Finals
Wagga City Claims Southern Inland Premiership Following Intense Grand Final Victory Over Waratahs
Key Points
Griffith defeated Wagga City 24-14 in the third-grade decider to start the day.
In the second-grade final, Wagga City defeated Hay 28-22, contradicting the summary’s note that Griffith won the second-grade title.
Lumpkin County’s Kolson Howell accounted for five touchdowns in their 42-31 win over Dawson County, including a 24-yard fourth-down TD pass to Martin Hulsey.
In the Jefferson at Calhoun game, Boone Horn scored twice, including a 1-yard TD to cap an 84-yard drive in the third, and later connected on a 42-yard TD pass to Austen Kitchings to make it 21-19 with 1:28 left.
Butte High’s purple/white scrimmage featured four quarterbacks sharing reps, with Raeder Grey leading two scoring drives, including a 2-yard TD run by Miner Lee and a 47-yard TD pass to Ryan Bache.
Wagga City claimed the Southern Inland premiership in 2026 with a narrow 33-26 first-grade victory over Waratahs Daily Advertiser. The win capped a mixed day for the club—they also celebrated a women's premiership with a 34-24 triumph over Waratahs, but fell short in third grade, losing 24-14 to Griffith.
Griffith dominated the day by claiming both the second and third-grade titles Daily Advertiser. Meanwhile, regional leagues saw East Wagga-Kooringal advance to the Farrer League grand final with a 40-point semi-final blowout, and Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes pulled off a Riverina upset over Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong.
Wagga's First-Grade Victory Over Waratahs
Wagga City squeaked past Waratahs 33-26 in the Southern Inland first-grade grand final Daily Advertiser. The seven-point margin made for a tense finish, with both teams trading momentum throughout. Wagga's first-grade triumph marked the club's major prize for the 2026 season.
Griffith Sweeps Second and Third-Grade Finals
Griffith ruled the day's lower grades, winning both the second and third-grade premierships Daily Advertiser. In third grade, Griffith beat Wagga City decisively, 24-14. The dominant performance gave Griffith fans multiple reasons to celebrate across the grade ladder.
Wagga Women Capture Second Premiership
Wagga City's women's team capped off a strong year with a 34-24 grand final win over Waratahs Daily Advertiser. The ten-point victory gave the club a second premiership for 2026 and proved women's rugby league remains a growing force in the Southern Inland competition.
East Wagga and Mangoplah Chase Farrer League Glory
East Wagga-Kooringal dominated its Farrer League semi-final, crushing Charles Sturt University by 40 points to book a grand final spot Daily Advertiser. The lopsided victory showed East Wagga's firepower heading into the decider. Elsewhere, Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes shocked Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong in an upset result Daily Advertiser. The win sets up a semi-final clash with Coolamon for a shot at the final.
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