Hayden Bell back onboard at the Narrabri Blues as trainer

Narrabri Rugby League Football Club has been boosted by the return of one of the club’s 2021 minor premiership winners Hayden Bell, who has joined the club as its head trainer for 2025.

Bell last played for the Blues in 2022 and was a key member of the club’s first-placed finish on the first grade ladder a year earlier.

Jake Rumsby was the captain-coach of the side that year but called upon Bell, who is a former member of the Australian Army, to run fitness drills throughout the year.

That included a gruelling three-hour boot camp-style fitness session in the pre-season that hardened the playing group and helped lay the foundation for a winning season.

Bell will not lace up the boots again in 2025 but will lead training sessions at Collins Park, especially until a new coach is announced for the Blues’ first grade and under-18s teams.

The club made the announcement on January 22 that Bell would step into the role and that there is also an agreement with him for 2026 and 2027 for the first grade coaching role.

Work and family commitments have prevented him from taking on the coaching role this year, but he told The Courier he looked forward to working with whoever takes on the position as well as the ladies’ coach Kaitlyn Armitage.

“For the 2025 season, I’ve taken on a role to help the club out with training and things like that,” Bell said.

“The boys don’t have a coach yet, so I thought I’d jump in, get it started, get the miles in their legs and get the ball rolling.

“I want to help out where I can this year, but due to work commitments and family, I can’t commit 100 per cent for this year, but we’re putting some plans in place for next year and the year after as well.

“I’ll be helping out on the training front, and when the new coach does come in, I’ll adapt to the way he wants to coach and we’ll go from there.

“If whoever it is wants me to stick around and help out, I’d be happy to provide my assistance and keep helping out.”

As of the end of last week, the club had 18 senior men and 15 women’s players signed up for the 2025 season.

The Blues’ club president Cameron Staines said that things were looking positive for the year ahead, and the club was thrilled to have Bell back onboard.

“It’s a real win-win for us,” Staines said.

“We’re really happy.

“We don’t have a coach yet, which puts us in a difficult position, but with Hayden there to help train the boys, it’s really going to help.

“Hayden’s a bloke who won’t do something unless he’s 100 per cent committed, so he can’t take on the coaching role due to work and family commitments.

“But having him around to help train, with the team going to be his next year, as I said it’s a win-win.

“He will sort them out and help keep them fit, and next year we’ll just be able to hit the ground running with that knowledge of the team.

“We definitely need a coach for this year though.”

Bell was a Narrabri junior and then played many years of senior footy for the club as well, either side of leaving town to join the army back in 2008. He said the club holds a special place in his heart and winning the minor premiership in 2021 was one of his best footballing memories.

He is also the Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League vice-president and is determined to help the senior club thrive and to continue providing a pathway for local juniors.

“They’re the main reasons I wanted to help out and provide assistance,” he said.

“Obviously I’ll do that this year, and we’ll build some momentum for next year and the year after.

“Like most people growing up in Narrabri, I think footy is the heart of the community, and to see it starting to decline the way it is I think is pretty heartbreaking. I wanted to jump in to help out.

“We have some talented young kids coming through, and they are good kids.

“If I can offer them some help and direction in some way, and I can drag a few guys back with me, I really think the club can push for another premiership or minor premiership next year.”

Bell ran his first training session last Thursday before training switched to Wednesdays and Friday nights from this week.

The first training run was cut short due to a storm, but Bell said he was impressed by the effort that was on show throughout the evening.

“It went alright but there was a big storm that rolled in that kept a few away,” he said.

“It was a short and sharp session to blow out some cobwebs. Hopefully we attract a few more blokes from (this) week to get stuck into it.

“We are back to Wednesdays and Fridays now from 6.30pm at Collins Park. If anyone is thinking about playing, get down and give it a go.

“Rugby league is the heart and soul of Narrabri.

“Even if you can’t play, get in and help out and see what the future holds for the Blues.”