Munro savours club victory | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

He's drunk the cup of joy with Kaierau twice, now with Marist.

Darren Munro rated 2010 "an awesome year" after his new side took the Tasman Tanning Wanganui premier rugby title on Saturday in wet, slippery conditions.

Marist's 12-8 victory came on the back of a controlled team effort, with goalkicker Matt de Bryun landing four penalties from six attempts to John Mow's try for Kaierau backed by an Areta Lama penalty.

Former Kaierau man Munro joined Marist at the start of this season for a change of atmosphere, and life's been pretty good since, with a Ranfurly Shield challenge at No8 and now a Wanganui championship for his new club.

"This is a special championship," Munro said. "I've won two with Kaierau and now one with Marist - they're all special in different ways.

"I've still got a lot of respect for the boys of Kaierau, they've been family for a long time.

"But this is a new home, I'm loving it here. It's been an awesome year."

And in truth, the biggest cheer of the awards ceremony came from his Marist teammates when Munro was named the "player of the final".

Munro, turned into a fulltime No8 by Marist coach Karl Hoskin, admitted Marist gained the bounce of the ball a couple of times in the final, "but our skills held up as well. Kaierau's probably didn't, they dropped a lot of pill."

Munro suggested most had written Marist off "for two weeks in a row, but the young fellas have been slowly getting more confidence and belief, and important guys like Steelie [Koro] and Cameron [Crowley] at the back have been showing form. Now it's all come together.

"From being beaten by Ruapehu and Kaierau by 40 points at the start of the season, to beating them both in the semi and final, it feels pretty bloody good."