Sunday was a proud moment for the town of Wee Waa as the local rugby league club made its return to Group 4 Rugby League for the first time since the 2018 season.

It was not the comeback the Panthers were hoping for as all three grades went down against the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters at Kootingal Sportsground, but just getting back on the field was a win for the local club and its players, coaches and committee who are now determined to build to be bigger and better both this year and beyond.

Wee Waa were beaten 56-0 in ladies league tag and 52-0 in the under-18s before the first grade team went down 66-6 against a Roosters outfit that a week earlier had accounted for the Narrabri Blues 54-22 while Wee Waa sat out with the round one bye.

Panthers first grade co-coach Matt Freeman admitted that it certainly was not the way that he and captain/co-coach Jacob Haynes and their team wanted to kick off the campaign, but he said there were many positives that came out of the contest, none more so than the attitude his players showed.

“Definitely wasn’t the start to the season that we wanted but the boys just hung in there the whole time,” Freeman said.

“They never gave up and that’s something we can be proud of. Even after the game, they still held their heads high.

“Even though the scoreline didn’t flatter us at all, the boys never turned on each other once and they always had each other’s backs.

“I thought they played as a team all the way through the game. There was no bickering and they kept playing right through to the end up until the game was done.

“Everyone was definitely very keen and pumped on the bus this morning on the way there.

“Coming back into the comp, we were all really happy and keen to get rolling. We’re glad to get back out on the field.

“Our uniforms looked great and it was really good to see us running around in them. It nearly brought a tear to my eye.”

Zack Doring scored the Panthers’ first try of the year after charging onto a short ball thrown by Raymond Stahn out of dummy half close to the line and forcing his way over. Dylan Harradine then kicked the conversion to add the extras.

Harradine lined up at halfback in Wee Waa’s’ return to the competition and he was awarded two Group 4 best and fairest points for a standout effort, while prop Jayden Harradine also impressed and was voted Wee Waa’s players’ player.

The Roosters ran in 12 tries during the game, three of which were scored by Brayden Jerrard who kicked nine conversions to go with his hat-trick. Billy Nean bagged a double and the other seven tries were claimed by Jack Rumsby, Dylan Clarke, Nic Zahra, Anders Glew, Logan Howard, Archie Thistle and Leroy Livermore.

The other first grade games in round two across the weekend were won by Boggabri Kangaroos, Werris Creek Magpies and Moree Boars.

Boggabri travelled to Kitchener Park to challenge Gunnedah Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon and scored a 44-26 victory while Werris Creek beat the Blues 38-18 at Collins Park in Narrabri.

Moree travelled to Jack Woolaston Oval on Sunday afternoon for a grand final rematch against the defending champions North Tamworth and they belted the Bears 42-16. Former Narrabri Blues and Wee Waa Panthers gun Brenton Cochrane scored a hat-trick for the Boars in that match and also polled two Group 4 best and fairest points.

Wee Waa will be on the road again in round three on Sunday when they tackle Werris Creek at David Taylor Oval in three grades. Their first home games of the 2024 campaign will then be held in round four when they welcome Narrabri Shire rivals Boggabri Kangaroos to Cook Oval.

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