First up in the Argus' series titled, 'The Victory Lap', is our local rugby league club, Macleay Valley Mustangs.

2018 was a season of tribulation for the club but what followed the year after was nothing short of jubilation.

The appointment of Russell Lardner as head coach in 2019 saw the Mustangs bring back some of Group 3's best players to the club.

Jesse Douglas, Josef Barber, Tyler Roberts, Stephan Blair and Adam McMurray were the first to return with Chris Piper and Ritchie Roberts the next to join. Piper went on to win Group 3 Player of the Year for the second year running.

The final piece of the puzzle was Group 3 superstar, Owen Blair, who agreed to play with the side two days before the season started.

"No one thought I would be able to bring them all here. They were getting paid by other clubs and we have no money at all. They all essentially sacrificed a second income to show their loyalty to me, this town, the Mustangs and the future of rugby league in Kempsey," Lardner told the Argus at the time.

From there the Mustangs went on to complete a fairytale season, securing their first premiership victory since 2014.

The 2019 first grade grand final saw the Mustangs pitted against the Wauchope Blues in Wauchope.

Macleay Valley were on the back foot early with two early errors leading to Blues centre Beau White opening the scoring for a 6-0 lead in the 4^th minute.

The Blues followed that up with sustained pressure, missing a penalty goal from right in front before Sam Watts reached the try line to give Wauchope a 12-0 lead.

The final five minutes of the first half saw a serious change of fortunes for the Mustangs despite losing Jesse Douglas to the sin bin prior.

David Davis crashed over the try line twice, the second effort was awarded a penalty try after the Macleay Valley winger was taken out while in the action of catching a cross-field kick.

12-all the scoreline at half-time.

Jeremy Taylor crossed after half-time to give the Mustangs their first lead of the match before the Blues returned serve with a scrum set-piece giving Sam Watts his second try to level the game.

The Mustangs then asserted their trademark flair on the match with captain and lock forward Richie Roberts barging over the line.

A close chance for Stephan Blair followed that Roberts try, however the pass from his brother and fullback, Owen Blair, was ruled forward.

Shortly after that ruling Mustangs winger McKye Davis-Tucknott marked a cross-field kick over the pack, putting the ball over the line to give his side an eight-point lead with 14 minutes left on the clock.

Davis-Tucknott then followed that effort with another try to give the Mustangs a 12-point lead.

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The Blues' fullback Tony Thompson scored not long after to bring the deficit back to six points.

With the score at 30-24 with two minutes remaining, Macleay Valley hero and star player, Owen Blair, delivered on his obvious ability by pouncing on a Blues error, stepping one player and sprinting down the sideline to seal victory for the Mustangs and deliver an unbelievable premiership victory.

"I picked it up and was just thinking 'run'," Blair told the Argus.

"It was an incredible feeling. It's a great win for us players but it means a lot for the community, especially when you consider what people have been through over the past few years."

The premiership victory was more than deserving for coach, Russell Lardner, who, along with many of his recruits, sacrificed a lot to bring their beloved club back from the brink of dark times.

"When you think about where this club was a year ago, unable to finish the year in both senior grades, to then come back and win a premiership the following year - it's indescribable," Lardner said.

Lardner went on to win Group 3 Coach of the Year for his efforts.

Experienced campaigner, Mustangs captain Richie Roberts, added on the day that 2019's success had a different feel to his previous grand final appearances.

"This one is special," Roberts said.

"It's going to take a while to sink in I think but I am just going to soak this feeling up and celebrate with my teammates."