PORT Macquarie product Paddy Coelho was the hero for Wests yesterday in their Vawdon Cup final victory over Penrith.
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Coelho scored the winner in the corner in extra time drop-offs, sparking wild celebrations among the Wests boys. The Magpies won 7-6.
It was just about the only time Wests led in a pulsating grand final. They trailed 3-1 at half time before hitting back to 3-3 at the final whistle.
The two teams traded touchdowns in extra time before Coelho's winner.
The ball came looping over to him from the centre of the park, and Coelho said he had plenty going through his mind as he watched it float.
"Don't drop it, and just get it down," he said yesterday.
Coelho caught the ball and had to dive low to avoid a touch from the opposition winger.
The team went crazy when he scored.
"And I was at the bottom of the pile," Coelho said.
It was the first time Wests had won the final since Coelho had been at the club.
"We've had our fair share of silver medals," he said.
"It was about time we'd won it."
The win caps off a magic tournament for Coelho, who was the leading scorer of the Cup.
He scored 18 touchdowns. Coelho had played in the centre of the park, and on the wing.
That was where he scored the most points.
"I got a couple in the centre, then moved to the wing and got bagfulls," he said.
He put the victory down to a strong Magpies outfit.
"It was a good team effort," Coelho said.
"We deserved to win."
The Magpies will begin training on Wednesday ahead of the State Cup in Port Macquarie in December.
They are striving to do the double: win the Vawdon and State Cups.
"That's pretty difficult to do," Coelho said.
Coelho is a busy boy at the moment. He sits university exams tomorrow.
"I'll focus on the books for a bit," he said.
