100 years of rugby league in Narrabri celebrated at the RSL Club

An audience of 240 guests, players, officials past and present, and supporters of Narrabri Rugby League Football Club, the legendary Blues, gathered for a gala club centenary dinner at Narrabri RSL Club on Saturday night.

The evening brought together many familiar faces and many stories of the history of the Blues.

Highlights were addresses by past coaches and players who recalled the triumphs and challenges on the field across the past 100 years.

A feature was a well-documented video narrative in two parts which spanned the history of the club, a major undertaking which will be a valuable heritage record for the Blues.

Many photos were taken on the night which will comprise a pictorial feature in a future edition of The Courier.

The photos illustrate a cavalcade of players, officials and supporters over the decades.

Narrabri Rugby League Football Club life member John Rumsby welcomed guests to the centenary dinner, while other speakers included Bob Small, Bruce Penberthy, Peter Doring, Barry Ford, Frank Fish, Sue Thomas, Kevin Hill, James Baker and Jake Rumsby.

Each speaker covered particular eras – and games – in the club’s memorable and proud history.

Pride was certainly a theme of the night.

Speakers drew on their pride in playing for Narrabri and being part of the Blues family, a mutually supportive bond which they valued.

Attendees at the centenary dinner ranged from young players coming up through the ranks to current Blues and ‘veterans’ from as far back as the 1950s.

There was much catching up and reminiscing.

The common thread of the evening was the strength of the Blues as a club, being proud to represent Narrabri on the sporting field so successfully for 100 years with the depth and support to continued for the next 100.

The club’s current first grade captain-coach Jake Rumsby, the son of John, offered his thoughts about being a Blue and celebrating 100 years of rugby league in Narrabri.

“It was a really good night,” Rumsby said.

“A fair few stories were told during the night and there would have been a few lies a bit later.

“Will Brooks from the RSL Club did a delicious three-course meal which was popular.

“The club was really happy with the numbers and I think the RSL Club would have been happy too.

“It was good to see, a lot of hard work went into it and it went off without a hitch.

“It was good to see a number of life members there too and just a lot of old players and members of the club as well – some of them returned home and travelled a fair way to be there.

“I was honoured to have a speech right at the end too.

“I love playing footy in Narrabri and obviously everyone knows Johnny (Jake’s father John Rumsby) being a life member.

“I grew up with rugby league, with the old man’s involvement. I can’t remember a Sunday where I wasn’t watching the Blues play.

“That made Saturday night even more special for me.”