A hat-trick in the minor semi-final. A hat-trick in the preliminary final. And then a hat-trick in the grand final.
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The 2025 Blowes Cup season could not have ended any better for Cooper Ryan.
That hard-running outside back was the hero on Saturday, August 7, as his Dubbo Kangaroos side produced an almighty second-half surge to down the Bathurst Bulldogs 48-29.
Much of the second-grade match at Orange's Endeavour Oval was an absorbing battle between two quality sides.
The lead changed four times in the first half alone, but the Roos went into the sheds with a slender 15-14 lead.
The Bulldogs scored the second half's first try to get their nose in front again, but after that, it was all about the Roos and their inside centre.
Ryan was involved in almost all of the Dubbo side's best moments, and he was swamped by teammates and the huge number of travelling Roos fans after the full-time whistle.
"That's the best feeling in the world," Ryan said after the win.
The frantic final was a fitting end to the Roos' rollercoaster season.
There was plenty of excitement around the second-grade side when the competition began, as improved depth in first-grade created a trickle-down effect.
But the side struggled for consistency and only after back-to-back wins to finish the regular season did they finish fourth and sneak into the finals.
Wins over Cowra and minor premiers Orange City followed, before Saturday's late dismantling of the Bulldogs.
"We did it hard all year, just scraped into finals, and then got the job done today," Ryan said.
"I knew we had the team to do it all year. We just had to come together, and we got it in the end."
Ryan played a huge role in the finals success, with his grand final heroics coming after he crossed three times against both the Eagles and Lions.
"It's a fluke," he laughed of his own performances.
There was little flukish about his showing in the grand final.
He looked dangerous almost every time he got the ball, especially in the second half when the game started to open up.
A number of Ryan's closest mates are part of the second-grade side, making the win even sweeter, while he also got to share the moment with a family member.
Alahna Ryan was watching on with a medal already around her neck after helping the Roolettes women's side to grand final glory earlier in the day.
"That's the best," Cooper said of winning together.
"Every weekend we support each other."
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior sports journalist for Western NSW, covering all that's happening in in Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst and everywhere in between. Contact me at nick.guthrie@acm.media
