Moree Boars to return to Group Four competition in 2020

By Geoff Newling

Moree Boars will play in this season’s Group Four Rugby League after the NSW Rugby League approved and confirmed its transfer from Group 19.

The NSWRL had placed a ban on all boundary transfers for two years after its merger with the Country Rugby League last year.

NSWRL operations manager Bert Lowrie said the recent rationalisation of the Country Rugby League into the NSWRL had convinced the NSWRL board “there was an urgent need to review all boundaries and competition structures across the whole state”.

“This work will commence shortly and we hope to have it concluded by the middle of this year. Pending the conclusion of that the board has taken the view that no changes should be made to competition structures without having the benefit of the review work to inform their consideration of any request to change competitions.

“Not withstanding the above, after the board considered (the Moree and Group Four) the request they were satisfied there were special circumstances which require the request to be granted in this instance.

“However it should be made clear the approval for the transfer to Group Four is strictly for the 2020 season only and is subject to the findings of the review of boundaries and competition structures.”

Moree Boars president Todd Mitchell was thankful the NSWRL had decided to allow the Moree transfer back to a competition in which it had previously had great success.

The last season that the Boars played in the competition was in 2013.

“We can start planning for a big year,” Todd Mitchell said.

“The rumour mill out here hurt us a bit.”

Rumours the NSWRL would not let the Boars move back to the group where it won first grade premierships in 1988 (32-28 Gunnedah), 1989 (16-15 Narrabri), 1999 (32-20 West Lions) and 2002 (34-18 West Lions) had the Boars hierarchy and players worried, Mitchell said.

“We had 35 seniors training from the start but then that dropped to 15 before Christmas with the rumours,” he said.

“Now, with the long weekend out of the road we can plan for a big season.”

Matt Ryan, a former premiership winner with the Boars, Northern Division star in a Country Championship win and NRL player will coach the Boars.

They will bring four grades (first grade, reserve grade, under-18 and ladies league tag) to the 2020 Group 4 competition, a season Group Four Rugby League president Ray McCoy has tagged as a “season of challenge”.

He called 2018’s premiership where Group Four rejigged its first and second division competitions into one a “season of compromise”.

Last season became a season of consolidation and 2020 will be a season of challenge.

The addition of Moree confirms an eight team, home and away season for North Tamworth, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Kootingal, Werris Creek, Dungowan and Boggabri.

Ray McCoy thanked the NSWRL for allowing Moree’s move back to Group Four.

“It’s going to be a great season, a season of challenge,” Ray McCoy said.

“Great that the NSWRL allowed Moree’s move after setting a moratorium on all transfers in NSW Country. I believe they are looking at a total overhaul of all country competitions over the next couple of seasons.

“With Moree back we now have eight strong clubs with four grades who will play a home and away season kicking off April 4 and 5.

“The Jack Woolaston Nines will kick off the season at Jack Woolaston Oval, North Tamworth on Saturday, March 21 too. That will be another great day after last year’s good success.

“Having Moree involved in that only makes it better.”