A flag-waving black and gold painted satyr led the Westside Hotel-sponsored Rhinos Gold team onto field.?

The ground was ablaze with the blue and gold of the Eagles on one side of the ground, while the huge crowd from Dubbo unfurled flags, streamers and every type of black and gold item imaginable on the other.

Vehicles almost totally surrounded the oval and seating was at a premium.

From the start it was obvious Yeoval wanted to play in the Gold half, as they punted the ball into the corners at every opportunity.

For the first 10 minutes the Golds responded by driving with the ball back up the field with some concerted forward rushes while Yeoval spun the ball outside and made good ground with every attack.

Eleven minutes into the contest Eagles winger Josh Lees out-paced and out-flanked the defence with a 30-metre try in the corner, converted from the sideline by halfback James Amey.

Play then settled into an arm wrestle as both sides tried to establish dominance in the forwards.

Neither team could get on top but there were strong runs around the rucks and some brutal tackling.

This led to a game-ending rib injury to Golds playmaker and half, Josh O'Dea, who was replaced by experienced reserve James De Lyall.

With 25 minutes gone winger Jarrod Willoughby got on the end of a backline rush to create an overlap and post first points for the visitors.

Kane Rich slotted the conversion from out wide to level the scores at 7-7 but Yeoval hit back almost immediately with a try to fullback Isaac Kinscher, arguably one of the best players in the zone (including Blowes).

Amey again slotted the conversion, which was to be the last points Yeoval would score for the match.

In the time remaining both packs went at each other, looking for an elusive mid-field break.

Captain Nic Rathbone and breakaway Sam McLeod led the forwards with great determination while lock Manbir Mann played a third breakaway role, cleaning up the rucks and protecting the ball.

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With the Eagles leading 14-7 at the half the home crowd was reasonably confident but a howling crowd of black and gold supporters had no doubt where the trophy was headed with a constant barrage of noise.

Early in the second half Golds prop Brett Austin left the field with a severe rib injury, and was replaced by Ra Dean.

Dean played most of the season with the Blacks, during which time he improved his fitness and his huge, weighted drive around the rucks.

He added weight to the scrums and drove small holes in the defence.

In a ruck situation inside the 22-metre area fullback Kade Goodwin, who had been nursing a blown knee, followed the forwards until a hole opened up and he used his exceptional speed to scoot over.

Rich missed the conversion for the Eagles to enjoy a lead of 14-12.

For the next 20 minutes the scoreboard remained unchanged before Golds centre Ricky Weatherall, who had been heavily marked, drew numbers as a decoy, with the ball finding the big-striding Villi Turaga who then threw a long clearing pass to winger Rob Davy.

Davy stepped his opponent and raced 30 metres for what was to be the match-winning try.

A second Rich conversion brought the score to 19-14.

The final minutes dragged on for the Golds as the Eagles tried everything possible to breach the line.

Reverting to long, down-field kick-and-chase tactics, they pounded the Gold line but could not get close.

At the final whistle the Rhino faithful erupted in joy and the players hugged and danced to their first premiership.

As Rathbone raised the beautiful GrainCorp Cup for the first time he praised his opponents and the Eagles management for the ground set up and the way in which the game was played.

He praised his own team and coaches and stood by while GrainCorp representatives presented the cup and gave medals to the winning team.