“GETTING CLOSE”: Trindall filled with confidence after watching his Blues produce best their performance yet

The Narrabri Rugby League Football Club first grade side is getting better and better, and there is a strong sense that a win is right around the corner.

The Blues are winless after four rounds of footy in the Group Four Rugby League campaign, however, produced their strongest showing so far in their most recent outing when they hosted the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters at Collins Park in round four on Sunday and went down 42-32.

Not only was that comfortably the most points the Narrabri men have scored in a game so far this year, it was more than they had registered in the first three games combined.

It was also the side’s best defensive display so far this season, and for the first time in four matches, the Blues led at half-time as they went into the break ahead 20-10.

The visitors scored the first try of the second stanza, but Narrabri hit back and made the score 26-14.

The Roosters were forced to play the final half hour of the match with 12 men after centre Dylan Clark was sent off for a high tackle, but they regrouped and scored the next 20 points to establish a 34-26 lead with about 10 minutes left to play.

Narrabri crossed next to make the score 34-32, however, the Kootingal-Moonbi men ran in two more tries to win the match 42-32.

In-form Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters second-row forward Logan Howard was unstoppable on the day as the skipper scored four tries and polled three Group 4 best and fairest points.

Opposite second-rower, Narrabri Blues’ Jess O’Neil, was also electric as he scored a hat-trick and was awarded two Group 4 best and fairest points.

Narrabri’s other try-scorers were Dylan Segundo, Aiden Butcher and Robert Condran, and halfback Trey Doolan slotted four goals to add eight extra points off the boot.

It was a gutsy effort by a Blues side that was missing captain-coach Josh Trindall, who watched the game from the bench after suffering a hamstring injury in round three, as well as a few other players including Gus Smith, Damon Gleeson and Kalab McMillan.

Trindall was pleased with what he said was his team’s best performance of the year so far.

“We played for a lot longer,” he said.

“The first three games, we started good and played well for the first 25 minutes but had a flat period leading into half-time. But we picked that up on the weekend. We went into half-time leading.

“There were just a few silly errors that cost us towards the back end of the game. There was a time there we got back within four points, and we let the ball go dead from the kick-off, and that sort of broke our backs.

“But we are playing longer, and that’s the key to it all. If we can keep playing for longer periods, we’ll be in a lot more games.

“We feel like, internally as a group, we’re getting close.

“We know we’re improving, and that’s all good and well, but at the end of the day we want to win.

“That’s what we are striving for.”

Trindall was proud of his entire team against Kootingal, commending Doolan who he said steered the side well around well from halfback in the captain-coach’s absence, hooker Aiden Butcher who he said had his best game of the year, Dylan Segundo who scored a try in his maiden first grade start, and youngsters Nick Tomlinson and Keegan Richardson, who had only made their first grade debuts a fortnight earlier but are punching above their weight.

He was also impressed with O’Neil and Condran, who he said were two of the side’s best on the day.

“Jess O’Neil was unreal,” Trindall said.

“He scored three tries and just had a killer game.

“Rob Condran was really good too. He just works and works, gets through so much work that goes unnoticed.

“I think he’s probably one of the most underrated players in the Group.

“He makes a lot of tackles and takes so many hitups. He’s a good player and he’s very valuable in our team.”

Trindall also applauded the efforts of young front rowers Jeffrey Harvey and Daniel McMillan, who he said had been brilliant in the opening month of the season and performed superbly in round four.

The Narrabri Blues’ captain-coach is hoping to return to the field as soon as possible and cannot wait to get back on the field to rejoin a group of young men that he believes are improving significantly each week.

“It was very frustrating not being able to play,” Trindall said.

“I’d rather be out there trying to help the boys.

“But in another sense, it wasn’t too bad. It’s a different role sitting there watching the game and running the interchanges.

“It was a new little environment there which was good to experience, but I’d rather be playing.”

Trindall is touch and go for this weekend’s round five away clash against his former side, the Boggabri Kangaroos, at Jubilee Oval.

The Kangaroos are going into the game off the back of three straight losses, so the importance of gaining two competition points for both sides will add to the excitement of the local derby.

“Boggabri started off red hot beating Norths, but they’ve lost three in a row since,” Trindall said.

“It’s going to be a hard game against them. I know what they’re like when they play over there at home.

“They’re a tough team and they’ll be up for it. They are trying to get their season on track too.

“It should be a good game.”

Narrabri will welcome back both Gleeson and Kalab McMillan for the round five clash but will be without Lachlan Trindall after he dislocated his shoulder against the Roosters and is facing an extended period on the sideline.

The Blues’ captain-coach is hoping to be able to play against the team that he made many fond memories with during the 2021 and 22 seasons, and he will give himself until Sunday morning before making a call.

“Once I knew I was coaching, it was one game I circled on the calendar that I really wanted to play in,” he said.

“I’ve got some old friends there, but at the end of the day, we’re both trying to win.

“It’ll be business as usual for us and the same for them.”

All other first grade games were played on Saturday in round four.

Moree Boars became the only team to have won all four games so far this season when they ended Werris Creek’s undefeated run with a 42-15 victory at Boughton Oval.

The competition’s leading try-scorer Willy Baker scored a hat-trick in that game for Moree to take his 2023 tally to 11.

North Tamworth Bears scored a 26-20 away victory in Gunnedah against the Bulldogs, while the Dungowan Cowboys won 48-12 at home against Boggabri Kangaroos.

Meanwhile, the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters were victorious in all four grades on Sunday at Collins Park, winning ladies league tag 60-0, the under-18s 46-12 and reserve grade 40-16 before their first grade side got the job done in the main game.

Narrabri’s Mia Gould earned one Group 4 best and fairest point in the league tag match. It was the third game out of four this season that she has polled points and it took her tally to four.

In the under-18s game, Isaiah Cochrane continued his impressive start to the season as he scored all 12 of Narrabri’s points with two tries and two goals. He also earned one Group 4 best and fairest point.

In the reserve grade contest, Noel Mason, Adam Gordon and Darren Mason all scored tries, Kaleb Mowle kicked two goals, and Danny Morris earned two Group 4 best and fairest points.

Narrabri will travel to Boggabri this Sunday in three grades when it meets the hosts in first grade, reserve grade and ladies league tag at Jubilee Oval.

The Blues’ under-18s side has a bye in round five.