Narrabri Eagles and Moree Suns start their joint venture in style with a win

The Narrabri Eagles and Moree Suns’ joint venture is off to a flying start after the new-look AFLNW side scored a seven-point victory against New England Nomads in its season opener at the Moree Showground on Saturday.

Narrabri-Moree won the contest 14.9 (93) to 12.14 (86) after trailing at the three-quarter time break.

The joint venture team led 3.2 (20) to 2.4 (16) at quarter-time then kicked away to lead 8.4 (52) to 4.7 (31) at the main break.

However, the visiting team came out firing in the third term and outscored Narrabri-Moree 6.2 (38) to 1.3 (9) to stun the home side and take an eight-point 10.9 (69) to 9.7 (61) lead into the final quarter.

The hosts regrouped at the final break and went on to kick five more goals in the fourth term to regain the lead and claim a seven-point win.

Narrabri Eagles’ Dan Nixon is one of the side’s coaches as well as one of its key players.

He told The Courier that the side played well and said Ben Crawly was a standout on the day.

“We were a bit slow at the start but we definitely started to gel together well towards the end of the game,” Nixon said.

“It was good to get the win first up.

“Armidale gave Benny Crawly their best and fairest for our team which was well-deserved.

“Benny played really well in the ruck and he won a lot of contests in the middle.

“Another one of the Narrabri boys Corey Robinson kicked a goal too which was great.”

Nixon said that it was “unreal” to be back playing footy for the Eagles.

He added that the Narrabri-Moree team would need time to gel together before it could start playing its best footy.

“We’ve got the players and the mentality to give it a good crack this season,” he said.

“I don’t want to get too cocky too early though, we still have a lot to work on.

“We need to gel more as a team yet and get to know how all of the players play, that stuff takes a while.”

The Narrabri-Moree men will travel down the Kamilaroi Highway this Saturday to take on defending champions Gunnedah Bulldogs in round two at Wolseley Oval.

Seven or eight Narrabri men are expected to make that trip to challenge the Bulldogs.

Nixon said that although Gunnedah had lost several players from last season’s grand final-winning roster, he expected the Bulldogs to provide the joint venture side with a tough contest.

Gunnedah enters the contest having lost its round one match 11.17 (83) to 6.14 (50) on home soil against Tamworth Kangaroos, while the other round one clash saw Crossroads Cup winners Tamworth Swans defeat Inverell Saints 18.12 (120) to 8.9 (57) in Tamworth.