Narrabri Rugby League Football Club first grade coach Glenn ‘Snow’ Collins labelled his team a work in progress following a 54-22 defeat in round one of the 2024 Group 4 Rugby League season on Saturday.
The Blues challenged the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters at Kitchener Park in Gunnedah in the second of four first grade matches played at the venue during the season-opener footy fest, and they were outscored 10 tries to four and seven conversions to three.
The Roosters piled on two quick tries to establish a 12-0 lead and they went into the half-time break leading 34-6. Narrabri then put up a much tougher fight in the second stanza but they were outscored 20 points to 16 as Kootingal-Moonbi secured the two points and finished the day on top of the table.
Blues skipper and assistant coach Josh Trindall led the way for his side as he and fellow experienced half Chris Hunt guided a mostly young and inexperienced team around the park. Trindall scored one of Narrabri’s four tries, kicked three conversions and was awarded two Group 4 best and fairest points.
Chris Clark, Gus Smith and Kurt Wallace also scored tries for the Blues.
Kootingal-Moonbi’s Liam Hatch ended the game with a hat-trick, Brayden Jerrard and Anders Glew both bagged doubles, and Adam Murphy, Billy Nean and Mckye Tucknott scored a try each. Jerrard also slotted seven conversions.
There were a lot of positive signs in the round one contest for a Narrabri side that has a lot of improvement in them. The Blues did not play a trial game in the pre-season and several players have only signed up in the past few weeks, so the entire playing group have plenty of gelling to do yet.
Collins told The Courier that he expected that to come soon, and he praised his players’ efforts on what was a warm day at Kitchener Park.
“I thought we were good in patches in our first game of the year,” Collins said.
“We were a bit clunky, but that comes down to match fitness. We hadn’t had a game and Kootingal had played two or three trial matches, and you could tell the difference.
“There were times the boys were coming up in fives and sixes, not in the full line as they got tired, and they were trying to go wide and put shape on before they went forward. They’ve got to go forward before they can put shape on. I spoke to them about that at half-time, and once they started to focus on going forward instead of going around them, they went bang, bang, bang with tries.
“But that was our first hit-out, and I expect a big improvement from them next week. I truly believe that in three or four weeks’ time, we’ll be where we should be now. We’ll keep improving I think.”
Collins was particularly impressed with Jeffrey Harvey and Gus Smith on Saturday. Harvey produced a dominant 80-minute performance at prop, and Smith, who is usually a half, stood up in the number nine jersey at hooker.
The Blues coach also commended Trindall and Daniel McMillan who he said were quite solid.
Other round one results on Saturday saw the defending champions North Tamworth Bears defeat the Boggabri Kangaroos 28-10, 2023 grand finalists
Moree Boars outscore the Dungowan Cowboys 36-16, and Werris Creek Magpies down the hosting Gunnedah Bulldogs 38-10.
Wee Waa Panthers had the bye in round one.
The Narrabri Blues’ ladies league tag and under-18s sides were in action on Sunday when they travelled out to Kootingal Sportsground to challenge the Roosters. The under-18s team kicked off their campaign with a 20-16 victory after the league tag team had been beaten 64-4.
A reserve grade match was also scheduled to be played, but Narrabri forfeited earlier in the week.
Collins said he was confident the Blues would field a reserve grade side in round two on Saturday when they play their first home matches of the season at Collins Park as they host Werris Creek in all four grades.
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