Walcha will have another shot at claiming the premiership that has eluded them for over two decades - and three attempts in the last seven years - after outlasting Narrabri in a pulsating and enthralling major semi-final at Walcha on Saturday.
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The Rams snuck home 20-17, skipper Simon Newton's second half penalty proving the difference as they won through to a third straight decider and earned their first home grand final since 2012.
It was, as the scoreline suggests an arm wrestle to the final whistle, the final few minutes seeming to drag on agonisingly for the Rams' faithful after Newton had broken the 17-all deadlock with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Eventually the sound they had been waiting to hear came. Not before time, with the Blue Boars looking to work their way towards penalty range.
But Thor Crombie was able to get over the ball and force a relieving penalty.
"It might have been ugly but we got away with it and we know what we've got to work on," Newton said.
One of five of the current side there in 2012, he said it's very special to secure a home grand final (the last two they've had to travel to Tamworth).
"I can't describe it," he said.
"Back in 2012.. that was something different, and hopefully for the town; you know it's dry up here, it's dry everywhere, it's a good community event and everyone comes into watch, so looking forward to it."
He spoke about their "sheer determination" feeling that was what got them over the line.
"It was great to see the team just keep going and going and going and keep trying," he said.
"We didn't let off, even as bad as our mistakes were, we kept going so there's a real sense of belief here in the boys."
Arguably the best tactical kicking exponent in the competition, he was one of the chief architects of the win, his astute boot continuously turning the Blue Boars around in the second half and allowing them to control the game. He also crossed for a try and was instrumental in both of the Rams' other tries.
The first he set up with a clever grubber in behind the Blue Boars' defence that forced them to take the ball into touch. After some good continuity and patience, Lachlan Brown crashed over to put them up 7-nil after only a few minutes.
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It was a dream start, but as was the case in the two sides' last encounter, which Narrabri won 22-20 courtesy of a penalty after the bell, the Blue Boars came back hard at them, skipper Matt McDonnell skipping out of the first tackle and then steamrolling his way over.
Not long after Cain kicked the first of his four penalties to put them in front, the rustiness that was the concern for the Rams after three weeks off starting to creep in.
There were some moments when it clicked and they showed why they were minor premiers.
The best came with about 10 minutes to go in the first half. Attacking from deep within their half, Newton slipped a great offload to Tom Bucknell. Bucknell then found Richard Young who burst into the open field before sending Dom Bower away.
But the Rams' illdiscipline saw them quickly lose any momentum from that with Cain landing another two penalties, the second from around half-way right on half-time, to tie the scores up at the break.
Newton thought that was a bit of a hangover from the break.
"Three weeks off everyone was a bit excited in the first half," he said.
That was one of the big turnarounds in the second half, and crucially they were able to earn a few penalties of their own in good attacking positions.
They would have been disappointed though not to make more of their territorial dominance.
At one point in the second half they would have been camped on the Blue Boars line for 10-15 minutes. But they ended coming away with nothing.
"The second half the tactics were good, we pinned them down in the corners with kicks - just our execution wasn't that good to finish them off," Rams co-coach Barry Hoy said.
He admitted he thought when they didn't score then it might come back to bite them.
But it didn't, in part thanks to some crucial turnovers, Henry King, in his first game back from injury, also snaffling a couple of turnovers when he came on.
It was a tough day for the Blue Boars with their women's sevens side outgunned by Gunnedah 34-12 while the under-19s went down to Pirates 18-15.
Pirates are guaranteed at least two sides in grand finals with second grade snatching victory in the final seconds, replacement back Esava Ravouvou scoring with a minute to go to beat Moree 25-19.
