One of the great CNRU rivalries to reignite in Saturday’s grand final

The Heath Shield is up for grabs at Dangar Park on Saturday as old rivals Narrabri Blue Boars and Moree Bulls prepare to face off in Central North Rugby Union’s 2024 campaign first grade grand final.

These two clubs share a rich history, and alongside the Tamworth Pirates, they have been the most dominant clubs in recent decades.

Moree are the defending champions after they won their 17th first grade premiership last year at Chillingworth Oval when they defeated the Pirates 28-17 on grand final day.

The Bulls won their first decider 60 years ago in 1964 and have been a dominant force ever since.

Narrabri will go in search of their 14th premiership in 2024 after they earned their 13th back in 2022 with a 25-8 win over the Gunnedah Red Devils in Gunnedah. That grand final victory was Narrabri’s first in the top grade since 2015 when they downed Moree 30-20 at Weebolla Oval, a year after the Blue Boars defeated Pirates 25-19 in the most recent decider to be played at Dangar Park.

This Saturday’s grand final day also marks 20 years since the famous 2004 decider when the Blue Boars and the Bulls ground out a 20-all draw in a 100-minute thriller at Weebolla Oval and shared the premiership.

The two rival clubs have met three times this year since the Moree men knocked Narrabri out of the 2023 finals series in the minor semi-final at Moree last year.

The defending champions won the first encounter 32-20 on home soil back in round two in April, but the Blue Boars responded in style with a 38-31 victory in round 11 in June at Dangar Park.

Their major semi-final a fortnight ago saw Narrabri make it two from three as they held off a fast-finishing Bulls outfit to prevail 33-30.

The Blue Boars’ first grade coach Craig Gleeson said he had enjoyed his first year in charge of a great group of men, and he is expecting yet another close contest between the two rival teams on Saturday.

“We have a really good mix with size, mobility and a little bit of brilliance,” Gleeson said.

“We’ve got reliable and experienced footballers who don’t let you down in the big moments. They’ve got enough of that footy in them to turn up when the big moments present themselves and take their opportunity.

“Moree have a really strong all-round game with good ball-running forwards, a good scrum and a very dangerous backline.

“They are good all across the park and they can play a lot of different styles. We need to meet that, and we need to match their physicality early and try to assert some dominance.

“We know it’s going to be a tough game against them.

“I think if we can hang on to our fair share of ball and not compound so many errors, then we will go well.

“When we hold the ball for periods of time, we are dangerous. Our ball control and how we react to errors and penalties will be key for us.”

In a major boost for the Blue Boars, gun second-rower Josh Schwager has overcome a hamstring injury and has been named on the bench for the decider as the hosts go into Saturday with only club captain Morgan Jones unavailable through injury.