''The Final Winter'' is an Australian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

released in 2007. It was directed by Brian Andrews and

Jane Forrest Jane may refer to: * Jane (given name), a feminine given name * Jane (surname), related to the given name Film and television * ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd * ''Jane'' (2016 film), a South Korean drama fi ...

and produced by Anthony Coffee, and

Michelle Russell Michelle Russell (born June 27, 1992) is a Canadians, Canadian sprint kayaker. Career Her home club is the Cheema Aquatic Club in Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada. As a 17-year-old at the 2009 Canada Games Russell represented Nova Scotia where she ...

, while independently produced it is being distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was written by

Matthew Nable Matthew Nable (born 8 March 1972) is an Australian film and television actor, writer, sports commentator and former professional rugby league player. After playing in the Winfield Cup Premiership during the 1990s for the Manly-Warringah and S ...

who also starred as the lead role 'Grub' Henderson. The film, which earned praise from critics, focuses around Grub, who is the captain of the

Newtown Jets The Newtown Jets are an Australian rugby league football club based in Newtown, a suburb of Sydney's inner west. They currently compete in the NSW Cup competition, having left the top grade after the 1983 NSWRFL season. The Jets' home ground ...

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 11 ...

team in the early 1980s, and his determination to stand for what rugby league traditionally stood for while dealing with his own identity crisis. ''The Final Winter'' was adapted to the stage in 2015 by Justin Brice Performed in

Albury–Wodonga Albury–Wodonga is the broad settlement incorporating the twin Australian cities of Albury and Wodonga, which are separated geographically by the Murray River and politically by a state border: Albury on the north of the river is part of New So ...

for four nights starting on 15 July to sold-out crowds. Justin Brice is an Albury–Wodonga local performer and stage writer who dedicated three years to crafting the script to fit on a theatre stage.

Plot

The film explores the way in which business tore up the loyalty that was between Grub's club and family. Essentially this is a metaphor for the way in which business began to imprint the game of Rugby League during the 1980s, and saw the rise of commercialism in the game. Consequently, Grub must battle with an administration that wanted him gone and additionally his brother and coach's betrayal. The film also deals with the domestic issues between Grub and his wife and his children, as their husband and father has been transformed from who he was to who he has become.

Cast

Matt Nable Matthew Nable (born 8 March 1972) is an Australian film and television actor, writer, sports commentator and former professional rugby league player. After playing in the Winfield Cup Premiership during the 1990s for the Manly-Warringah and ...

as Mick "Grub" Henderson *

Bob Baines Robert Alan Baines (born 15 November 1952) is an Australian actor. He has starred in many television shows including '' Water Rats'' and ''Home and Away'' as school principal Martin Bartlett. Filmography * 2015 – ''The Dalfram Dispute 1938 ...

as Neddy *

Conrad Coleby Conrad Julius Coleby (born Conrad Julius Taylor, 20 September 1979) is an Australian actor and photographer, whose roles have included Scott Zinenko on the medical drama '' All Saints'', for which he was nominated for a Logie Award, counsellor A ...

as Billy * Nathaniel Dean as Trent Henderson * Damian De Montemas as Max * Kevin Golsby as Judiciary Chairman *

Raelee Hill Raelee Hill (born 24 October 1972) is an Australian actress best known for portraying roles in some of Australia's most successful television series. Her first major role was as Loretta Taylor in ''Paradise Beach'', which was followed shortly ...

as Emma Henderson *

John Jarratt John Jarratt is an Australian television film actor, producer and director and TV presenter who rose to fame through his work in the Australian New Wave. He has appeared in a number of film roles including '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), ' ...

as Colgate *

Matthew Johns Matthew James Johns (born 27 July 1971) is an Australian rugby league media personality, commentator and former professional player. An Australian international and New South Wales State of Origin representative , Johns played his club footbal ...

as Jack Cooper *

Michelle Langstone Michelle Langstone (born 30 January 1979) is a New Zealand actress who has been in many films and television series over the years in both New Zealand, and in Australia. She starred as Dr. Katherine "Kat" Manx in the television series ''Power ...

as Mia *

Scott Lowe Scott William Lowe (born October 4, 1963) is Chair of the Cancer Biology and Genetics Program in the Sloan Kettering Institute at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is recognized for his research on the tumor suppressor gene, p53, which ...

as Muddy * Katie Nazer-Hennings as Rebecca Henderson * Tiarnie Coupland as Jessica Henderson The film also features cameo appearances from Tom Raudonikis, Roy Masters,

Thomas Keneally Thomas Michael Keneally, AO (born 7 October 1935) is an Australian novelist, playwright, essayist, and actor. He is best known for his non-fiction novel ''Schindler's Ark'', the story of Oskar Schindler's rescue of Jews during the Holocaust, wh ...

Jack Elsegood Barry "Jack" Elsegood (born 22 December 1973 in Sydney, Australia), is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and former race driver. Rugby League Manly Warringah Sea Eagles A Manly Warringah Sea Eagles junior and an Austra ...

Max Krilich Max Krilich (born 25 October 1950 in Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a hooker for the Australia national team, playing in thirteen Tests from 1978 to 1983 and ...

, Terry Randall,

Phil Sigsworth Phil Sigsworth (born 31 January 1959), (also known by the nickname of Whats-a-packet-a) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer. He played primarily in the position. Sigsworth attended Newtown Boys' Junior High School wher ...

, Noel "Ned" Kelly Ivan Cleary,

Les Johns Les Johns (born 1942 in Newcastle, New South Wales) is a former Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s and early 1970s. Club career Les Johns started his career at Newcastle's Souths club. He then played nine ...

, Craig Hancock, Terry Serio, Peter Peters, and Australian Wrestling Federation

ring announcer A ring announcer is an in-ring (and sometimes on-camera) employee or contractor for a boxing, professional wrestling or mixed martial arts event or promotion, who introduces the competitors to the audience. In boxing and mixed martial arts bou ...

'The Duke of Wrestling' Kieran Burns.

References

External links

''The Final Winter''
at

IMDb IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...

Greater Union Blurb
{{DEFAULTSORT:Final Winter, The 2007 films Australian independent films 2000s sports drama films Australian sports drama films Films set in Australia Films set in the 1980s Rugby league films Newtown Jets 2007 independent films 2007 drama films 2000s English-language films