Power House Wins Another Dewar Shield
Victorian rugby has a dynasty again. Power House Rugby Club has won another Dewar Shield, claiming the 2026 premiership with a thrilling 39 to 36 grand final victory over its great rival, Harlequins. The win completed a third straight premiership for the Albert Park club, following titles in 2024 and 2025.
The timing made it even more special. The 2026 season marked the 100th time the Dewar Shield has been awarded, and Power House is now the name engraved on that historic edition. This article looks at the grand final, the club’s three-peat, its long history, and what the result means for Victorian rugby.
The 2026 Grand Final at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | Dewar Shield, Victoria’s premier club rugby competition |
| Edition | The 100th Dewar Shield |
| Timing | Mid-August 2026 |
| Result | Power House 39, Harlequins 36 |
| Significance | Third consecutive premiership for Power House |
A Grand Final for the Ages
A three-point margin tells you everything about how close this decider was. With 75 points scored between the two sides, the grand final was an open, attacking contest in which neither team could pull clear for long.
The match was settled late. Power House won a lineout in an attacking position, set up a driving maul, and pushed over for the winning try in the closing stages. For a forward pack, there are few more satisfying ways to win a final than grinding out a try under pressure with the whole team bound together.
One account of the match described it simply as “an absolute cracker,” and supporters who were there are likely to remember it for years.
A Rivalry Renewed
The opponent made the win even sweeter. Power House and Harlequins are long-time rivals, and they had already met in the 2025 grand final, when Power House defended the title it won in 2024. Harlequins had also been the dominant force earlier in the decade, winning back-to-back premierships in 2022 and 2023.
That means the last five Dewar Shields have been shared between these two clubs, making their rivalry the defining contest in Victorian club rugby right now.
The Road to Three in a Row
Winning one premiership is hard. Winning three straight in an amateur competition, where players juggle work, study, and family, is a remarkable achievement.
- 2024: Power House won the Dewar Shield, beating Endeavour Hills in the grand final, and also claimed the 3rd Grade title
- 2025: the club defended its crown, beating Endeavour Hills 23 to 14 in the preliminary final before overcoming Harlequins in the decider
- 2026: under a new competition format, Power House again finished on top, edging Harlequins 39 to 36
The 2026 title was won under Rugby Victoria’s new structure, in which all ten clubs first played a nine-round Championship phase before the top five split off to contest the Dewar Shield. Adapting to a new format and still winning shows the strength of the club’s squad and planning.
Matching the Club’s Greatest Era
Before the season, Power House set a clear goal: to match the club’s famous 2006 to 2008 team, which also won three premierships in a row. The 2026 season also marked the 20-year reunion of the 2006 premiership side, giving the current players extra motivation.
By beating Harlequins, the current group achieved that goal and joined one of the club’s most celebrated teams in history.
Power House’s Premiership History
Power House is one of Victoria’s most successful rugby clubs. According to the club’s own list, its Dewar Shield premierships span almost nine decades.
| Era | Premiership Years |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 1938 |
| 1950s and 1960s | 1956, 1958, 1968 |
| 1970s and 1980s | 1973, 1974, 1987 |
| 1990s and 2000s | 1997, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| 2020s | 2024, 2025, 2026 |
That list gives Power House 14 Dewar Shield titles, placing it among the most successful clubs in the competition’s history alongside Melbourne Unicorns, Moorabbin, and Kiwi Hawthorn.
Origins at Somers
The club’s story began in the early 1930s at youth camps held at Somers on Westernport Bay, run by the Lord Somers Camp and Power House association. Friends who met at these camps went on to form several sporting clubs, including the rugby club, which was founded in 1933.
During the Second World War, many members served in the armed forces. An entire rifle company of a militia battalion was made up of club members, and some did not return. The club still honours them each year with an ANZAC Day service. Today, Power House is based at Albert Park, with clubrooms on Lakeside Drive.
More Than One Title in 2026
The Dewar Shield was not the club’s only success in 2026. Power House also won the Women’s Lindroth Cup. Winning major men’s and women’s titles in the same season shows how strong the club is across the board.
Club leaders had highlighted that depth before the season, reporting more than 100 players at pre-season training and seven senior teams entered, possibly eight with a second women’s side, which they described as the most by any senior club. Plans for new clubrooms were also on track during the year.
Keys to the Dynasty
Several factors appear to explain why Power House has stayed on top for three seasons:
- Depth: a large playing group means injuries and availability issues do not derail the 1st XV
- Forward power: the grand final-winning maul reflected a strong, well-drilled pack
- Clear goals: the club openly set its sights on a three-peat before the season began
- Culture and history: links to past premiership teams, such as the 2006 side, give players a standard to live up to
- Whole-club strength: success in lower grades and women’s rugby feeds confidence across the club
What the Win Means for Victorian Rugby
A dynasty can be both good and challenging for a competition. Power House’s success raises the standard for every other club, while also showing what strong organisation and depth can achieve.
The result also matters for the wider game:
- It highlights the quality of club rugby in Victoria since the Melbourne Rebels left Super Rugby
- It gives young players a clear example of a successful, well-run club
- It sets a target for rivals such as Harlequins, Endeavour Hills, Footscray, and Melbourne Unicorns
- It adds a memorable chapter to the 100th edition of the Dewar Shield
Can Anyone Stop Power House?
With Rugby Victoria aiming for a divisional system with promotion and relegation by 2028, competition is set to become even more intense. Harlequins will be desperate to turn back-to-back grand final defeats into a title, while other clubs will be studying how Power House built its squad depth.
For Power House, the next goal is obvious: a fourth straight premiership, something the club has never achieved.
Final Thoughts
Power House wins another Dewar Shield, and this one will be remembered for a long time. A 39 to 36 grand final win over Harlequins, a late maul try, a third straight title, and the honour of winning the 100th Dewar Shield make 2026 one of the greatest seasons in the club’s long history.
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