The film, which earned praise from critics,[3] focuses around Grub, who is the captain of the Newtown Jets rugby league team in the early 1980s, and his determination to stand for what rugby league traditionally stood for while dealing with his own identity crisis.

[4] The Final Winter was adapted to the stage in 2015 by Justin Brice and performed in Albury–Wodonga for four nights starting on 15 July to sold-out crowds.

The film explores the way in which business tore up the loyalty that was between Grub's club and family.

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.

[4] The film also features cameo appearances from Tom Raudonikis, Roy Masters, Thomas Keneally, Jack Elsegood, Max Krilich, Terry Randall, Phil Sigsworth, Noel "Ned" Kelly[6][7][8] Ivan Cleary, Les Johns, Craig Hancock, Terry Serio, Peter Peters, and Australian Wrestling Federation ring announcer 'The Duke of Wrestling' Kieran Burns.