'We needed to be good': St John's keep their cool against talented Raiders

Parkes was named player of the match in the Dubbo District Junior Rugby League (DDJRL) decider, starring in the 34-24 victory against the South Dubbo Raiders.

While the hard-working prop was the standout, St John's coach Bernard Wilson said every player did their job.

"That was a key we did speak about that we needed to be good across the board," he said.

"Which we were I thought, everyone played and a role contributed to our success."

For the Raiders, they showed signs of a very good football team but it just wasn't their day.

Regardless of the result, coach Matt Naden was proud of his group.

"The boys worked hard all year, we obviously got ourselves back into the game," he said.

"But some silly errors cost us in the long run. I thought we worked pretty hard but St John's were just too good in the end.

The two sides traded tries in the opening 10 minutes with Cohen Butterworth storming over for St John's before Tye Gillon Cubby ran the length of the field after plucking a Cooper Townsend kick out of the air.

St John's winger Darcy Pollard was the next player to score but his try was matched by South Dubbo's Brinc Hill.

Tries to Seb Wilson and South Dubbo gun Tyreike Powell had the score locked up at 14-all at half-time.

Coming out of the break, Ezekiel Hardy and Ariki Karaitiana both scored for their sides before Lucas Large put St John's in front with his four-pointer.

A successful conversion gave St John's a 24-18 lead before the game was stopped due to an altercation between the two teams.

As a result, Kobie Couley and Dominic Kerin were both sin binned.

South Dubbo halfback Bryson Read was excellent all game and muscled his way over to get the Raiders back within two points.

Jordan Naden's successful conversion levelled the score up at 24-all before Townsend produced a moment of brilliance.

The St John's captain squeezed through a gap in the defence and raced away, drawing in the fullback before passing to Pollard for his second try of the afternoon.

Tom Maas was only on the field for a handful of minutes and immediately made an impact throwing a superb cut-out ball to Clinton Lane for what proved to be the match-sealing try.

"It was a tough game, South Dubbo is a side that has stuck together for a long time," Wilson aid.

"It was great to play against them in the grand final, they deserve to be there and we had our work cut out for us.

Now with young men moving into senior footy, Naden said he took the time after the match to address his group.

"I just said it was a pleasure to coach them this year and I wished them all the best on their journey," he said.

"Whether they go on to play senior footy or don't go into it or move onto work. I just wished them all the best because they are a great bunch of kids who are turning into young men.

"They are a tight bunch."