The final pieces for the Narrabri Rugby Club’s 60th anniversary year preparations have now fallen into place, with the Blue Boars’ coaching appointments finalised.
Club president Mick Coffey told The Courier he was thrilled with the group, and he was typically determined and positive when asked about the goals for the teams in 2024.
“Win the club championship, and three premierships at home in Dangar Park grand finals,” he said.
“I reckon that sounds pretty good.
“If you’re not aiming at that, then something would be wrong.
“We’ve got, for the most part, a fresh look amongst the coaching group, so people are excited for the year ahead.
“We’ll be betting big”
The fresh look he speaks off sees Narrabri Blue Boars club stalwart Craig Gleeson appointed to the head coaching role, with another familiar face in Michael Cain to both assist him and manage the team.
Those two well-known Narrabri sportsmen boast 409 games for the Blue Boars between them, with Gleeson having played 184 matches and Cain having played 225.
The ever-present Todd Farrer is also among the coaching setup and will look after the forwards coaching.
The reserve grade team will be captain-coached by experienced campaigner Nathan Nott, while Coffey will again be the head coach of the women’s team as they strive to defend their 2023 maiden premiership.
Coffey will be assisted by Mitchell Creighton.
As was announced last month at the Blue Boars’ annual general meeting, Morgan Jones steps into the role of club captain.
With high aspirations for all three teams, and the club overall, Coffey declared that having depth of players and a strong level of commitment will be critical, as will be the overall bond of the players both on and off the field.
That stems from both leadership and experience, which was a feature of the coaching staff as well as the senior members of the playing group previously.
“There’s been a big turnover from last season,” Coffey said.
“Nothing untoward or negative, it’s simply a case of other things in life popping up and people needing to prioritise.
“Pack (the Narrabri Rugby Club’s previous premiership-winning first grade coach Jake Packer) is moving away, Took and Chase (2023 reserve grade coaches Dylan Duncan and Chase Magner) have been busy fellas, with Chase and Jessie recently having had a baby and then Took and Daisy having one in 2024.
“Peta Cox is stepping back from (women’s tens) coaching to just be a player and enjoy her footy without worrying about anything else.
“Toby Keys, who has been our club captain for two years, and has done a sensational job, is off overseas.
“All these people have been phenomenal for the club and the playing group. They have left the place in a tremendous position, and it will make life easy for the incoming group to pick things up and run with it. They deserve recognition for their efforts, nothing but praise from me for them.”
Along with the already-mentioned coaching appointments, there will be plenty of familiarity around the changerooms and game days.
Ben Redfern will once again man the matchday table and will do the ground announcing as he has for several years now, and Wayne Nott continues as the anchor of stability, continuing his role as the strapper for the club.
Coffey also mentioned the ability of the club to draw on the experience from others who are not formally in any position or committed to any role but are always willing to help.
“We have the likes of Jack Farrer, Toffa (Chris Fowler), Matt Radford, Ken Campbell and others who will help,” he said.
“They’re only a phone call away and have a wealth of rugby knowledge to bring.”
While the club awaits the Central North Rugby Union competition draw to be finalised, it was confirmed at a zone meeting on Sunday, November 5 in Barraba that the season will begin on Saturday, April 6 as the traditional 18-round home and away series, and then into a finals series which will be shortened by a week, with the major and minor finals to be played on the same weekend rather than across two weekends as has been the case during previous years.
That change will result in the 2024 grand final being played on Saturday, August 31.
Coffey explained that request to shorten the season were the reasoning behind the change.
“There has been a push from some clubs and players to shorten the season in recent years,” the Blue Boars’ president said.
“Life has changed post COVID.
“There seems to be less ability to commit from more people, so it needed to be considered.
“A vote was held to shorten the number of rounds in the competition, but it’s difficult to do that and not end up with a draw that advantages some and disadvantages others, so that vote didn’t get up.
“Shortening the finals was strongly supported so there is a week there shaved off. For lots of people, this includes me, with the grand final to be in August and already knowing there’s not any rugby in September feels immediately refreshing.
“I think it’ll be fine.”
Coffey was quite positive when asked about the losses and gains to the club’s playing ranks for 2024.
“Look, there’s a few names who are throwing around the idea of retiring, a few toying with a return to rugby so it’s not fair on them for me to name them before they have decided either way,” he said.
There’s a few definites that won’t be there – Abbey Anderson and Toby Keys are headed overseas, Tom Nolan will be having a knee reconstruction so he will miss the entire season, DK (Daniel Kahl) has had a shoulder reconstruction, Tori Allison has been forced into retirement with an ongoing foot injury, Will Brennan will be moving for work, Daisy Duncan is having a baby, Miranda Hamilton is off to the army after graduating high school and cult hero Simon Haire has moved for his job.
“There are some good gains too though. Linton Grumley will return from injury, Alex Reed is making a return to playing, Patrick Wheeler returns to the club after finishing uni and will bolster the front row stocks, and Miles Campbell returns home and adds to our halfback stocks – he’ll be a great addition.
There are a few other names that have already been mentioned about returning home, so we’ll see what eventuates there, plus I’m not 100 per cent sure exactly how many of the 2023 under-18s team can move to senior rugby or who has another year left there, but hopefully there’s a few of them as well because there’s some sensational talent that played in that team this year.
“To add to that, there are a few very experienced players who are in reach of individual milestones in 2024.
“James Albert, Dylan Duncan, Ed Carrigan, Luke Tuckey, and Joe Maunder can all chalk up 100 club games next year, so that should keep those blokes keen to keep going too.”
Due to the Narrabri Rugby Club only finalising coaching appointments in recent days, there is no date circled on the calendar yet for the Blue Boars’ pre-season training to begin, or dates locked in for any trial games.
Coffey said that will be organised and communicated in the coming weeks, so that the players have a clear understanding of the plans heading into the Christmas break and ensure any new or returning players are aware of the scheduling also.
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