But, as Sarah Reyter says, that was never going to happen.

The Blue Heelers’ girls knew this was their year.

Tries to Karla Pearson, Reyter and then a slashing four-pointer to Hannah Watson ensured it was, Cargo turning a 12-4 deficit into an eight-point lead in the space of 10 minutes to rocket into the box seat to claim the club’s first Cup league tag title.

A late try to Eugowra’s Brooke Cusack, and the ensuing conversion from eventual player of the match Amelia Davis, made the final few minutes as pulsating as any during the entire day, but Reyter’s Heelers hung on to win their premiership.

“It’s the best feeling and I’m glad I could do it with all of these girls,” Reyter said, her try giving Cargo the lead for the first time in the second-half.

“We sort of lifted after that and all pulled together and got across the line, I’m absolutely stoked.

“I was a bit (worried) in that first half, it was touch and go there for a while but we had it in us and we knew this was our year. We put it together.”

The minor premiers and favourites to claim the title, Cargo scored the first through Haylie Connaughton in just the third minute to race the Heelers to a 4-0 lead.

The tide quickly turned though as Eugowra showed its class, with Mikala Mongan and halves partner Kimeaka Bermigham lifting their side in the opening 30 minutes.

It netted the defending champs tries firstly through Mikaylah Dukes and then Bermigham, the faultless right-boot of Davis ensuring four became six on both occasions – her first conversion was a ripper from the touchline – to hand Eugowra a 12-4 lead, which they held until the break.

The second half then belonged to the eventual premiers.

“The rub of the green was tough … there was too much talk and we had to get it together,” coach Anthony Regan said.

The rub of the green he’s referring to was the 8-4 penalty count at the break. It didn’t improve in the second half, blowing out to 16-5 in the Geagles’ favour.

“That probably got them off their game and we just had to refocus and we did that in the second half,” Regan continued.

“We’ve got points in us, we’ve scored just under 600 for the season; that was never a problem.

“Sticking to our game plan was, we didn’t want to play expansive straight up. We wanted to make Eugowra chase a lot from marker and knock them up.

“We had a good talk in the sheds and we started to play like we train in that second half.”

He said the final few moments after Cusack scored to bring the margin back to two points was heart-pumping stuff.

“It was good for the crowd,” he smiled.

“Getting to a grand final is an achievement and winning it is another one.”

Eugowra coach Michael Dumesny said losing was always “hard to swallow” but couldn’t fault either side’s contribution to a thrilling grand final.

“The Cargo girls just wanted it more at the end, I think,” Dumesny said.

“Good on them, you can seen the scenes here. They’re all balling … they’ve had a really good year and so have we. The 20-18 scoreline just signifies how close it is between us. 

“Good on them. I’ve been there and know what it’s like and now know what it’s like on this side of things. It was a really good game.”