The Fijian Drua have beaten defending champions Queensland Country 36-26 to win the fifth edition of Australia's National Rugby Championship (NRC).
Queensland Country were the only team to beat the Fijians in the regular NRC season, but were unable to repeat the feat in the final in front of a healthy crowd at a rain-sodden Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Albert Tuisue bulldozed across the line on Saturday to break a 12-12 deadlock before the break. The big lock added his second try 10 minutes into the second half to give the home side a more comfortable cushion.
Eremasi Radrodro, Peni Naulago and Alivereti Veitokani also crossed for the Fijians, while Australian winger Chris Feauai-Sautia and Wallabies squad member Jordan Petaia scored two of Queensland Country's four tries.
"Today's match was always going to be tough in the wet and, with their sizeable forward pack, the Drua played to the conditions and came out on top," Queensland Country coach Rod Seib said.
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"Momentum shifted throughout the match and our boys were in the contest for the full 80 minutes, but credit to the Fijians - they fed off their home crowd and played a great game.
"I'm really proud of the way our team has performed throughout the season. Today, they showed a lot of character to stay in the match until the very end.
"They've shown a lot of maturity and progression throughout the season, and were deserving of a place in the grand final.
"We have a lot of young talent within this side, which will bode well for Queensland rugby moving forward. We have players who will be heading into their first and second seasons of Super Rugby with the Reds, who will have benefited from being part of our campaign in 2018," Seib said.
The Fijian Drua were rewarded after finishing the regular season as minor premiers.
Rugby Australia high performance general manager Ben Whitaker congratulated the Fijians on their victory.
"Over the course of the NRC season, the Drua played enterprising, exciting rugby that enthralled and entertained fans in Fiji, around Australia and across the world.
"We offer our commiserations to Queensland Country who fought hard today. They have a very young, talented squad and it will be exciting to see how these players develop over the coming years.
"Their consistency over the past two seasons in reaching back-to-back NRC finals will no doubt positively impact the Queensland Reds and Wallabies over the next few years".
AAP
