Boggabri Kangaroos showcase their depth in trial victories

Boggabri Kangaroos are looking to go one better in the 2025 campaign after finishing as runners-up in last year’s Group 4 Rugby League competition, and early signs are positive after the club hosted its first trial matches on Saturday.

The Kangaroos had about 15 players from the senior men’s squad missing but still managed to score dominant wins in both first and reserve grade on home soil at Jubilee Oval as the club’s depth was on full display.

The Kangaroos beat the Coonamble Bears 40-10 in first grade after the home club’s reserve grade side had defeated the Quirindi Grasshoppers 38-10.

The women’s tackle team were short on the day with several players away, and they went down against Quirindi.

Boggabri’s first grade head coach Shane Rampling told The Courier that he was pleased with what he saw from his men in their first hitout of the year

“Our effort and fitness were really good,”Rampling said.

“I think we’re a lot fitter now than we were this time last year. We really went into cruise mode there in first grade. Our fitness really showed.

“We made a few silly errors trying to force the pass but we defended really well, including a couple of sets on our line, which was pleasing.

“It’s been a nightmare this year for trying to organise trials, with teams pulling out on us. Fair play to both Coonamble and Quirindi. We really appreciate them coming across.”

Saturday’s trial match was the first opportunity for local Boggabri fans to see some of the club’s new signings in action.

They include former Narrabri Blues prop Jeffrey Harvey and try-scoring machine Tevita Peciili, who played at North Tamworth and Dungowan in recent years.

Rampling said they both impressed throughout the 60-minute contest.

“For Jeff Harvey, it was his first game for us, and he was very solid up in the front row,” Rampling said.

“He showed good footwork, found his front well and threw a couple of good offloads. He really impressed.

“I thought our halves (Isaiah Adams and Andrew Wallace) combined well and led us around the paddock.

“Ash White did a great job playing at hooker too. He played a full game in ressies and then started for us.

“We have signed Tevita Peceli from Dungowan and he played really well in his first game for us too.”

The Kangaroos have had a solid pre-season so far, with Rampling pleased with the players’ application and their attitudes.

“We’re tracking along nicely at the moment, but there’s a long way to go yet,” he said.

“We’ve had good turnouts so far at training and there’s been really good attitude.

“We’re setting standards at training. If the boys make mistakes they get punished for it by doing extras. It’s just like in a game, when you make mistakes you have to defend.

“We’re making it competitive and fun too though.

“The depth at the club this year is really good. There’s competition for spots and the boys have been pushing each other at training.”

As well as Harvey and Pecili, other signings include Josh Trindall from Narrabri, who returns to the club, as well as last season’s top try-scorer for Narrabri Dylan Segundo and a few new Fijian players.

Forward Josefa Biu has retired after suffering an injury late last year and Boggabri have also lost Tom Bruce to Wee Waa.

Rampling said the Kangaroos would keep training hard during the weeks in the lead-up to the 2025 campaign, which will get underway on April 12 for the lower grades and April 27 for first grade.

The Boggabri coach advised that talks were ongoing to organise a trial match against the Bathurst St Pats on Saturday, April 5. A squad of approximately 22 players will travel to Bathurst to play in that match if it gets the green light.