Lifetime memories made

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League representative Travis Gibbs-Eulo presents club, state and international rugby league legend Cooper Cronk with his 2018 NRL premiership ring at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, on Sunday, September 30. Photo: NRL Photos

What is better than one huge surprise?

That’s right, two of them.

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League’s 2018 season came to an end in September, but the excitement had only really just begun.

Two weeks after another successful grand final day, and a week after hosting the Group Four internationals grand finals, the association was informed that it had been selected to present premiership rings to the players from the winning NRL grand final team.

On Sunday, September 30, an excited and honoured group of 18 junior Blues presented those rings to the Sydney Roosters after they defeated the Melbourne Storm 21-6.

Just over a week later the South Sydney Rabbitohs juniors came to town as a part of their annual North West tour.

At a tour dinner at the Narrabri RSL Club the South Sydney Rabbitohs juniors presented NDJRL with a $5000 cheque, a donation to help the club with expenses as the 2019 season approaches.

The 2018 season was Luke Browning’s first as the president of the NDJRL association.

He said that he was stunned at just how successful this year turned out to be.

“It’s been a big year,” Browning said.

“It’s my first year as president and there has been so much going on

“It’s not abnormal to have a good grand final day but to have the internationals here also, and then with the rings as well, it’s all been so overwhelming.

“It’s all been an amazing experience.”

NRL grand final night was up there with one of the NDJRL’s most significant memories.

The NDJRL players and their parents brushed shoulders with greats such as Wally Lewis, Paul Gallen, Johnathan Thurston, Andrew Johns, Luke Lewis, Sam Thaiday, and of course all of the grand final players and coaching staff.