By Jonathan B Geddes

WARRINGAH players were pumped up for Saturday’s Shute Shield grand final win over Eastern Suburbs by the stirring pre-match speech from coach Josh Holmes which gave them goosebumps before they ran onto Leichhardt Oval.

And amidst the jubilant celebrations on the field at fulltime, an emotional Holmes described the 37-24 victory by his underdog team as the highlight of his rugby career.

You could have heard a pin drop as Holmes delivered his final message to the team as the clock ticked down towards kick-off and nervous energy filled the Warringah dressing room.

The coach’s heartfelt address proved an inspiration as the players turned those words into action with a tenacious performance that resulted in their team being crowned deserved  premiership winners.

“Josh probably gave the best speech of his career,” Rats secondrower Sam Thomson told Rugby News after he capped his 100th first grade game with a memorable grand final victory.

“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Thomson said with a big laugh. “And the boys really rose to it, it was awesome.”

Rats centre Tyson Davis said Holmes’s words oozed enthusiasm and passion.

“Josh is a very serious person around rugby these days and very process driven,” Davis said.

“It was great to see that passion and heart before the game. It showed how much it meant to him as a coach and the playing group thrived off that.”

THE MEMORANDIUM OF UNDERSTANDING

THE gist of the coach’s message was that these opportunities don’t come around often and you give every litre in the tank.

Go work hard and give everything for the guy next to you.

These games are won by effort areas and you put your head in dark places. At the end, if you put in 80 minute efforts the team will win.

Of course, it wasn’t just what Holmes said but the way he said it that made the talk so powerful.          

THE COACH WAS STOKED  

SATURDAY’S grand final win was a marvellous achievement by Holmes in just his second season as a Shute Shield coach after previously guiding the Warringah Colts to a premiership in his club coaching debut. 

When asked if that was the highlight of his career Holmes, who was the star halfback in the Rats’ memorable 2017 grand final win over Norths, declared: “100 per cent. When you are a player it is personal and they are personal achievements.

“To take a team and do what we did when everyone said we are not the favourites and we are not going to win – and then to go out and win 37-24 in a grand final is just awesome.

“I’m stoked, I thought for the whole game we were the better team.

“I’m just so proud of all the boys and they got what they deserve

“There were a few times they came back but we just kept to our game plan.

“You save your best game to last and we certainly did.”

The game proved a fitting climax to a terrific season between two quality sides who both deserved their spots in the big dance.  

“Last year we faltered and I thought this year we peaked,”  Holmes said. “We were good against Hunter and then we built against Norths and we were ready to explode today.”

The Rats coach said to win a game like that every player has to be good.

While he would not single out individuals, two standouts were their inspirational skipper Ben Marr at fullback and man of the match No.8 Chlayton Frans.

Marr said since the time he started playing Colts with the Rats, Holmes has always been a mentor.

“When he started coaching first grade we had a good chat together and we have a good relationship,” Marr said.

“He expects a lot of me and I demand a lot of him.

“I don’t think anyone loves the club or gives more to the club than Josh Holmes.

“Me and Josh will look back on this one day and think ‘how good’.”