Kiama Rugby have made history and are now aiming to break a 22-year title drought, with both their first grade and reserve grade teams winning home major semi-finals over the weekend to qualify for the 2025 Illawarra District Rugby Union (IDRU) grand final.

A strong local crowd turned out at Kiama Showground on Saturday to watch reserve grade defeat Shoalhaven 31-21, followed by a thrilling first grade victory over Campbelltown. 

After losing to Campbelltown twice earlier this season, Kiama turned the tables with a 38-26 win.

Kiama’s first grade opened the scoring with a penalty goal, but from the 15th minute, Campbelltown took the lead and held it for most of the match. They went into halftime up 19-10.

“I think we went into this game with a pretty set game plan against Campbelltown and that was just backing our fitness against them. They're big boys and they're just power,” said Kiama number eight Dante Patrick. 

“We were sort of backing our game plan to really try and move them around the park, but we underestimated their actual fitness. Everything we threw at them, they absorbed and they actually threw it back at us.”

Kiama struck first after the break through Patrick, but Campbelltown quickly responded, extending their lead to 26-17 with 28 minutes to play. Then Kiama fullback - and former Dragons player - Junior Amone took over. 

He inspired a try for winger Nico Cowley and followed it up with a solo effort, running 50 metres to score and seal Kiama’s comeback win.

Patrick said the shift happened during halftime when the team made key adjustments to their strategy. 

“At halftime, we had to really make some changes and sort of do what they wouldn't expect, and that was take them up through the middle. That ended up coming off for us,” he said. 

“The words at halftime were, ‘there is no life next week.’ There’s no second chance. It was do or die. I think going into the second half with that mentality really helped kick the boys into another notch.”

He credited the effort of the forwards for inspiring Amone’s brilliance in the final 20 minutes. 

Junior Amone was one of the Kiama players who inspired their comeback over the weekend. Photo: Brian Scott

“He just came into his own. He saw that our forwards were wanting to take them up through the middle and he's just like, ‘I've got to reward these forwards,’” Patrick said. 

“That’s the sort of mentality we felt from him. If these forwards are laying the platform for me, then what's my excuse to not give it a crack? He took the ball and just ran with it - and we’re so proud of him.”

“He’s a very quiet-spoken guy. When he does speak up, he's got the whole room - all the eyes on him. It’s pretty cool to see that side of him and to have him lead us in that back 20.”

Reflecting on the crowd, Patrick said there was no better feeling than coming from behind in front of a roaring home ground. 

“It started off windy and then it started sprinkling a bit - it was a bit of a four-seasons day. Throughout all of that, the crowd definitely made themselves heard. We couldn't appreciate them more,” he said. 

“We’re hoping we get that, if not more, at the grand final. It was unreal hearing that roar during the comeback. It just gave us that extra leg and made us want to do it for them as well.”

Leighton Cowley played his 200th game for the club on Saturday. Photo: Brian Scott

It was also a milestone day for Kiama rugby veteran Leighton Cowley, who played his 200th game for the club. 

“He’s probably one of the OGs of this club that I think not too many people give enough praise for. Kiama was on the brink of folding around 2017-18, and he was one of those guys who put his body on the line - playing third grade, second grade, and then first grade straight away - just to make sure the club didn’t fold,” said Patrick.

Reserve grade also celebrated a 200-gamer, with Nelson Taione contributing to their 31-21 win that booked their grand final spot. 

Nelson Taione also played his 200th over the weekend. Photo: Brian Scott

“They've just got such good chemistry amongst them. The only thing that could come between them is themselves. There was a disjointed phase there where they gave Shoalhaven a bit of a sniff, but they just went back to what they knew and ran away with it. It’s awesome to watch,” said Patrick. 

“It gives us in first grade a bit of a kick seeing them doing so well. You just want to follow it up. That’s the kind of bond we’ve got at Kiama now. We just want to do it all together, and that’s thanks to our coach. He’s all about bringing us together. If one grade loses, then we all lose. That’s the mentality, and it’s really something special.”

Both grades will have a week off as they wait to see who they’ll face in the grand final in two weeks’ time - and Patrick says the timing couldn’t be better. 

“It feels like this whole season has prepped us for this week off, with the weather and everything - play one week, off the next. So we’re ready for it, and to be honest, after that brutal game, we’re quite happy to rest up.”

This weekend, Shoalhaven’s first grade will take on Campbelltown, while their reserve grade faces Woonona. The winners will go on to meet Kiama in the grand final.