The Maitland Blacks turned in their best performance across the park to defeat Nelson Bay 53-29 and effectively end the Gropers' final hopes.
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The Blacks win was led by a man of the match effort by Hugues de Rocquigny who collected the three Anderson Medal votes from scrumhalf Max Stafford and loose forward Marcus Christensen.
Blacks coach Matt Thomsas said it was the best linked performance by the backs and forwards this season.
"We've had good performances where the backs or forwards have led the way, but this was really the best performance across the paddock and the style of game we had been hoping to produce," he said.
Thomas said regular fly-half Pat Batey is out for the rest of the season at least after a CT scan revealed he had a fracture in his back.
He said Josh McCormack had been slated to play at fly-half before the news on Batey and had played extremely well combining excellently with scrum-half Stafford and centres Chris Logan and Carl Manu.
It was a huge day for debutants as well with 17-year-old Sam Parkinson scoring a double on his wing and young prop Thomas Vincent also having a fine game.
"Sam is an outstanding young player and deserved his opportunity. He is only 17 and discovered that the game is a lot quicker and played at a more sustained intensity but he did very well," Thomas said.
"You Tommy Vincent has been working really hard and if you can continue and lose a bit more weight and get a bit fitter he has a big and long future ahead of him in first grade."
Stafford and Logan also picked up doubles and de Rocquigny, Manu and Christensen got singles.
Fullback Lachy Bradford kicked four conversions.
The Blacks were without their NSW Country stars Travis Brooke and Harry Chapman but received a major boost with Mick Howell playing the full game and pulling up strongly.
"Mick is such an important part of the team on and off the field and it was great to see him get a full game under his belt coming back from injury.
"Chris Logan is another player who has had worries with injuries and he is getting back to the type of footy which he played last season when he played for NSW Country
"The combination of Max, Josh, Carl and Loges you could see the experience of combinations forming.
"We've been looking for it and we started to see it on Saturday."
Thomas said Christensen had been a tremendous contributor this season and fitted very well into the club in his first year.
"Marcus has trimmed down a lot and is playing good footy. He does a lot of that hard and tight work around the ruck that nobody sees," he said.
"He has been a massive contribution to the side. He likes the culture, he likes the players and the way the club is run.
"That behind the scene work in building the club by a number of people has been invaluable in starting to attract and retain players. We try to look after perspective players and their partners with jobs."
Thomas said the annual derby against Singleton promised to be another great day.
"We've got Singleton at home next weekend for Old Boys Day. That is always a great game and we urge all the old boys to get along for what is an important hit out," he said.
It is followed by a clash against competition heavyweights Hamilton in the the second of three home straight games with Southern Beaches after that.
The Blacks final regular season game is away game against Lake Macquarie with the bye in the last round.