The last time the Campbelltown Harlequins rugby club won the Illawarra District premiership was 25 years ago in 2001. They also won in 1997, and last Saturday they got a third title, reports ANDREW CHOICE:
Harlequins had to dig deep to claim a grueling 24–12 victory over Shoalhaven and secure the 2026 premiership.
The two heavyweights have engaged in tight tussles all season, and the grand final proved no exception. Built on a bedrock of defense, Harlequins outscored their rivals three tries to two to lift the trophy.
Harlequins opened the match brilliantly, applying immediate pressure from the kickoff.
The relentless attack paid early dividends when center Ben Fa’avae sliced through to score in just the sixth minute, handing Quins an early 5–0 lead.
True to form, Shoalhaven refused to back down. Building momentum through sustained possession, Shoalhaven leveled the score at 5–5 in the 20th minute.
Harlequins struck back almost immediately. Capitalising on rare possession three minutes later, Quins executed a flawlessly structured lineout, allowing hooker EJ Isaako to crash over the line and stretch the lead to 10–5.
Despite limited opportunity with the ball, Harlequins held that tense 10–5 margin heading into the halftime break.
Quins carried their momentum into the second half, earning an early penalty goal through co-captain Faiva Faiva to push the buffer to 13–5.
Minutes later a second penalty goal from further Harlequins pressure pushed the score out to 16 points to 5.
Then direct from the restart, prop Elijah Sa shattered the Shoalhaven midfield with a powerful break. With brilliant support play keeping the movement alive, lock Rusty Ratulailai slammed down a try in the corner, extending the advantage to 21–5 with 30 minutes remaining.
Shoalhaven then dominated possession on the back of a mounting penalty count against Quins.
However, the Harlequins defensive wall was immense, repelling wave after wave of attack with dominant tackling.
Shoalhaven finally managed to breach the line with 12 minutes left, narrowing the gap to 21–12 and giving themselves a late lifeline.
Regaining composure and crucial field position, Harlequins used their ever-reliable scrum to force a late penalty.
Faiva Faiva slotted the kick with eight minutes to play, pushing the margin out to a decisive 24–12.
Shoalhaven mounted one final, desperate raid from the restart, hammering the line until the final siren, but Harlequins stood resolute to seal the 2026 premiership.
While every player in Harlequins colours put in a grand-final-worthy shift, top honors went to halfback Terry Fanalua (pictured), who earned Man of the Match honors for a masterclass behind the pack.
Hooker EJ Isaako and co-captain Faiva Faiva were equally outstanding throughout the contest.
A Historic Season for the Club
Saturday’s first-grade premiership capped off a remarkable week and a dominant season across all grades for the Harlequins club:
Women’s XV: The Lady Quins kicked off the club’s trophy rush three weeks ago by claiming the Sydney Division 2 Chikarovski Cup.
Juniors: Last Sunday, five junior teams contested grand finals, highlighted by a championship win for the Under-10s.
District Recognition: At Wednesday’s Illawarra District Rugby Union awards, Harlequins collected both the Minor Premiership trophy and the Mid-Season Leaders Cup.
Individual Honors: Faiva Faiva was named Illawarra Representative Player of the Year, while Malama Leatigaga claimed Women’s Representative Player of the Year.
Representative Honors: Ben Fa’avale, Mallissa Fatu, and Beyonce Marela were recognized for their NSW Country selection ahead of the Australian Rugby Championship.
It marks the end of an incredible 2026 campaign for Harlequins—one built on defensive grit, club-wide dominance, and silverware at every level.
IDRU GRAND FINALS RESULTS 12TH SEPTEMBER 2026
First Grade:
Campbelltown Harlequins 24 Defeated Shoalhaven 12
Second Grade:
Shamrocks 28 Defeated Avondale 13
