McDonnell to make switch to nine for Blue Boars’ minor premiership showdown with Gunnedah

The minor premiership and a home qualifying final are exactly what is on the line on Saturday when the Narrabri Rugby Club first XV travels to Gunnedah for a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash.

The Blue Boars are currently ranked second on the Central North Rugby Union ladder, while their round 17 opponents, the Gunnedah Red Devils, are first.

Both sides have won nine games and lost on three occasions in 2021 but the Gunnedah men sit two points clear of Narrabri having picked up 12 bonus points across the season compared to the Blue Boars’ 10.

With third-placed Walcha and fourth-placed Pirates both nine points back from Narrabri, the two sides which have contested the past three CNRU first grade grand finals are well out of the minor premiership race and it would take the unthinkable for one of them to even scrape into second.

The Blue Boars aren’t worried about either of those sides at present however, with all eyes now on Gunnedah.

If the Blue Boars win on Saturday they will finish the round on top of the table. They could go as many as three points clear of the Red Devils with one round remaining, or at worst they could finish level on 66 points.

While a loss does not necessarily relegate either side from minor premiership contention, both have winnable games waiting for them in round 18 which makes the match in Gunnedah all the more crucial.

The Blue Boars have made a massive change ahead of Saturday’s game, a forced one after halfback Jack Radford most likely played his final game in 2021 for the Blue Boars on Saturday.

Replacing him in the number nine jersey against Gunnedah will be Matt McDonnell, while Jimmy Schwager will wear McDonnell’s vacated number eight jersey.

Schwager started last weekend’s 26-point win against Moree Bulls at inside centre and starred with two tries while Jacob Nichols watched on from the sideline.

Nichols, who was rested for that match, will return in the number 12 jersey on Saturday.

The Blue Boars team will remain otherwise unchanged for round 17.

Narrabri Rugby Club’s first grade coach Hunter Harley told The Courier that the club and his men knew exactly what was on the line come Saturday.

“The minor premiership is on the line,” Harley said.

“Getting a home major is such an advantage I believe.

“We’ll be looking to get not only a minor premiership but also a psychological victory because I think one and two is cemented now.

“A lot of things would have to go wrong for us for that not to be in concrete.

“We should have a full strength side against Gunnedah, but unfortunately I think Jack Radford will be going back to Sydney with his employment so I don’t think we’ll have him for the rest of the year.

“But we’ve got some pretty good replacements there and we have a good enough squad with the senior players we have, we’ll field a very good side and a pretty good bench.

“I’m happy with what we’ll take to Gunnedah, we’ll give it everything we can.”

Harley said he had full confidence in Matt McDonnell to slot in at halfback and lead the Blue Boars around the park to victory.

“Matt will go to nine,” he said.

“It’s always hard to take out someone who is playing so well at eight, he’s been in our best points the last three or four weeks.

“But when you’ve got the likes of Jimmy Schwager, Todd Farrer and Tim O’Brien on your bench you can confidently utilise them to cover Matt to go to nine.

“Matt, years ago, was a Central North nine for two or three seasons.

“While Jack Radford is certainly outstanding, we can’t sit there and complain. I’m sure a lot of clubs in Central North would like to have someone of the calibre of Macca at nine.

“He’d be one of the best in the zone in about three or four positions.

“He’s won a grand final in the back row and he’s won one at 12, he’s also played semi-final football at nine.

“He’s a quality footballer and wherever he plays he’ll be one of our best.”

After dominating Moree at the scrum in round 16, Harley said his forward back would need to be at its best on Saturday against the Gunnedah men whose biggest strength was their forwards.

He challenged his men to play an up-tempo game, go forward and win the game line and create space for the backs to put the points on.

The full team list for Saturday’s match against Gunnedah is as follows – 1. Sam Spanton, 2. Will Turner, 3. Will Ciesolka, 4. Sam Knight (c), 5. Mitch Wheaton, 6. Linton Grumley, 7. Jack Maunder, 8. Jimmy Schwager, 9. Matt McDonnell, 10. Henri Knight, 11. James Baker, 12. Jacob Nichols, 13. Will McDonnell (vc), 14. James Albert, 15. Jydon Hill.

Meanwhile, the Blue Boars will also take on Gunnedah in second grade on Saturday.

Captain-coach Craig Summers will make his 300th appearance for the club in that game.

The fourth-placed Blue Boars can finish as high as second this weekend, but could drop out of the top four with a loss.