Boggabri Kangaroos were facing a drop to fifth place when they trailed 16-8 with five minutes remaining in their round 11 contest against the Werris Creek Magpies at David Taylor Oval on Saturday, but a stunning finale saw them score a comeback victory for the ages that has given them a chance to fight for the Group 4 Rugby League first grade minor premiership across the final three weeks of the regular season.
The Kangaroos trailed 10-8 at the half-time break and went further behind as Tyler Smith crossed for the hosts in the 65th minute, but the Roos began their comeback 10 minutes later when Pita Rogosau scored his second try of the day.
Ash White added the extras with a successful conversion to make it 16-14 before the Group 4 first grade competition’s top try-scorer Josefa Goneduadua went over for the match-winner with just over one minute remaining.
The winger had to beat four defenders on his way to the tryline and he also temporarily lost his balance after evading a tackle, but there was nothing stopping the flying Fijian from scoring his 20th try of the campaign as Boggabri earned their eighth win in 11 matches.
It was also their sixth win on the trot, which has propelled them to second place with just three rounds remaining.
Goneduadua’s try saw the Kangaroos take their first lead of the contest and break Werris Creek hearts on their old boys’ day after the Magpies had led from the 13th minute.
They could have gone three points clear at the top of the table had they have won, but they are now leading Boggabri only on for and against difference.
The Kangaroos’ head coach Shane Rampling told The Courier that the last-minute try was a testament to his side’s skill and determination.
“I was speechless. Absolutely blown away by it,” Rampling said.
“We left it to the last second but we got it done.
“It’s a testament to our boys. We can score from anywhere at anytime, and we never give up. That is a really good trait, and although we don’t like leaving it so late, we’ve done it a few times now this year where we come back to get a victory where it seemed impossible.
“In the first 20 minutes, I thought that we were really good. We got in the arm wrestle and got on top of bit, but we sort of went away from it a bit again.
“We lost Aaron Hobden after 20 minutes when he dislocated his finger, so blokes had to play a bit longer out there in the forwards.
“We came home strong and it was fantastic to get the win over Werris Creek out there, and on their old boys’ day.
“Winning when we knew a loss would push us back to fifth was huge for us, and we’ve gained a lot of confidence out of it.”
Werris Creek and Boggabri are now locked on 17 points following their round 11 clash as the minor premiership race goes down to the wire across the final three rounds.
The other teams battling to play finals footy in 2025 were also victorious in home ground mercy rule drubbings across the weekend to keep their minor premiership hopes alive.
Moree Boars are just one point behind the top two in third place after they took down the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters 60-0 in 80 minutes at Boughton Oval on Sunday to move to 16 points, while fourth-placed Gunnedah Bulldogs and fifth-placed North Tamworth Bears both moved to 15 points after they too registered 60-0 victories.
Gunnedah defeated Dungowan Cowboys in 44 minutes at Kitchener Park on Saturday before Norths downed Wee Waa Panthers in just half-an-hour on Sunday at Jack Woolaston Oval.
Boggabri lost their reserve grade and ladies’ league tag games at David Taylor Oval as Werris Creek prevailed 32-18 and 58-0, respectively.
Boggabri are still last on the seven-team league tag ladder and fourth in reserve grade.
Wee Waa forfeited in reserve grade against the Bears but lined up in two women’s matches.
The Panthers beat Norths 30-18 in the ladies’ tackle competition to remain fourth and boost their finals hopes as they went five points clear of fifth-placed Kootingal-Moonbi, but they went down 68-6 in ladies’ league tag to remain sixth.
There will be no Group 4 matches played this weekend due to a full competition bye for the Greater Northern tri-series tournament. It will be contested at Tamworth’s Scully Park, with Group 4 to challenge both Group 21 and Group 19 in under-18s, women’s and first grade men’s divisions.
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