Deja vu as Steelers see off Knights to claim Tarsha Gale Cup silverware

Ironically, the Steelers last claimed the trophy in 2019 - a side featuring the likes of Maddie Weatherall and Teagan Berry - by beating the Knights by an identical 24-12 scoreline.

The Steelers had conceded three tries total since February, but surrendered three four-pointers in the first half alone, two in the seven minutes before halftime in what was no doubt their toughest outing of the year.

Steelers coach Courtney Crawford would not have had it any other way, saying the gritty win showed the hard edge her side's campaign was built on despite making the regular season look a breeze.

"That's one thing that we've known in our inner circle all year," Crawford said.

"This group's worked really hard and they're not just a talented team, they work hard for each other and they do all the little things really well and that showed.

"We probably didn't put our best performance on the field, but we dug in deep, worked hard for each other, and it was good for us to be able to get the result under a lot of pressure.

"We knew Newcastle were going to be a good outfit, they work hard for each other and they don't give you many opportunities. For us to stick strong in that second half and take it six-nil was really impressive.

"I'm definitely proud for the group to do what they did, to go undefeated in a Tarsha Gale competition that's only getting stronger each year is an incredible effort.

"It's a credit to their hard work and their ability to connect as a group."

An Indie Bostock double, including a blistering 90-metre solo effort, and Chelsea Savill's perfect 3/3 off the tee proved the difference in the Steelers 18-12 lead at halftime.

At three tries apiece, the Knights were eyeing the upset as they pushed hard for second-half points, enjoying a glut of possession on the Steelers line without breaching the scarlet and white wall.

Having seen precious little of the Knights end throughout the second stanza, a Bronte Wilson try off a deft short ball from skipper Kasey Reh proved the match-winner seven minutes from fulltime.

The victory wasn't without some nervous moments, starting from the opening kickoff that saw Reh uncharacteristically spill her first touch just seconds in.

It allowed Knights winger Lily McNamara to open the scoring less than a minute in, though the Steelers responded quickly through Maria Paseka, who got a neat handle on a beautifully weighted grubber from Evie McGrath.

The Steelers next try also came off the boot, this time that of Reh, who put her side's second try on a dime for Bostock with a pinpoint cross-field kick five minutes later.

Bostock needed no assistance when she sliced through off a scrum on her own 10-metre line seven minutes later, racing the next 90 metres to post her side's third try under the black dot.

Just the floodgates looked set to open, a knock on from Ella Koster from the ensuing kickoff opened the door for the hit-back from McNamara, whose second four-pointer cut the margin back to 10 with six minutes to go until halftime.

Further errors at their own end from the Steelers saw the Knights continue their advance towards the interval, Malaki Poa diving over from dummy-half as the halftime siren loomed.

It gave the underdogs all the running heading into the break, and they kept their foot on the throttle to start the second half, launching a prolonged assault on the Steelers line without joy.

It proved the decisive period of the match, with defensive steel own paying off at the other end, with Wilson's try the dagger in a memorable grand final victory.

"Newcastle play a similar game of footy to us where we've got some strong middles and then they try and use their speed on the outside," Crawford said.

"Unfortunately we gave them a little bit too much ball and they hurt us, but it was really great to see the girls stick to the systems, trust each other and just really work hard.

"It was a real arm wrestle early in the second half and you could see every time we got the footy there were girls and their haunches because they'd just been defending their absolute hearts out.

"It was definitely our defence and willingness to work hard for each other that got us that result."

As it was in 2019, it's fitting that the Steelers were able to lift the 'Tarsha Gale Cup' given Gayle's own storied rugby league career began in Wollongong.

Even more fitting is the undefeated fashion in which they achieved it, a run of dominance not unlike Gayle's own back in the 90s as part of an Illawarra side dubbed 'The Bradmans of League'.

Dubbing it her "proudest moment as a coach" Crawford is well-attuned the fact she may well have been at the helm of a once-in-a-generation footy side.

"Those girls coming through are definitely very talented and it's exciting for the pathways," Crawford said.

"They've just been a great bunch to coach. They all work hard, they're not just naturally talented, they work on their craft.

"As long as they keep that same attitude going forward, they're going to go a long way in their footy careers, which is really exciting."