Junior Blues victorious at their home carnival on Saturday

The future of rugby league in Narrabri is certainly bright after an abundance of talent was on display at the local Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League carnival on Saturday.

The annual event was held at the club’s home fields at Cooma Oval, where there were five NDJRL teams in action among the 30 that competed on the day.

Narrabri players impressed in all age groups, especially in the under-7s division, which the home club won.

The Drew Eather-coached side won all of its four games a combined 116-24 to finish as the top-ranked team of the five in the division.

It downed Gunnedah 12-4, Manilla 48-0, Dungowan 28-0 and the second-placed North Tamworth 28-20.

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League’s under-7s side, which won the under-7s division at the annual NDJRL carnival at Cooma Oval on Saturday. Pictured are - back, coach Drew Eather, Linken Kelly, Nayte Thompson, Jed Eather, Tristan Lamb-Miners, Jack Lehmann, front, Harry Thurston, Tyler Aldridge, Aiden Eather and Bailey Thorn. Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League’s under-7s side, which won the under-7s division at the annual NDJRL carnival at Cooma Oval on Saturday. Pictured are - back, coach Drew Eather, Linken Kelly, Nayte Thompson, Jed Eather, Tristan Lamb-Miners, Jack Lehmann, front, Harry Thurston, Tyler Aldridge, Aiden Eather and Bailey Thorn.

Under-8s: Back, Laurence Alcorn, Bailey Oakley, Gus Collins, Talib Hall, coach Glenn Collins, front, Michael Lamb-Miners, Seb Alexander, Chase Lawler and Patrick Mullins. Under-8s: Back, Laurence Alcorn, Bailey Oakley, Gus Collins, Talib Hall, coach Glenn Collins, front, Michael Lamb-Miners, Seb Alexander, Chase Lawler and Patrick Mullins.

Under-10s: Back, coach Ben Manchee, middle, Clinton Lamb, Charlie Johnstone, Dustin Hilderson, Angus Irwin, Valerie Chapman, Walter Read, front, Laycee Lawler, Ezrah Watene, Cameron Parker, Harrison Tout, Angus Manchee and Mikaela Whan. Under-10s: Back, coach Ben Manchee, middle, Clinton Lamb, Charlie Johnstone, Dustin Hilderson, Angus Irwin, Valerie Chapman, Walter Read, front, Laycee Lawler, Ezrah Watene, Cameron Parker, Harrison Tout, Angus Manchee and Mikaela Whan.

Under-6s: Jimmy Johnstone, Archie Gordon, Kase Stahn, Hunter Gilmore, Arlo Watene, Campbell Carvell and Terrence Kelly. Under-6s: Jimmy Johnstone, Archie Gordon, Kase Stahn, Hunter Gilmore, Arlo Watene, Campbell Carvell and Terrence Kelly.

Under-11s: Back, Lewis Penberthy, Ollie Ford, Tyreake Dixon, Sonny French, Oliver Lehmann, Eddie Lowick, Romeo Backhouse-Smith, Cooper Mason, front, Dreyden Hall, Lucas Summers-Lawler, Tyran Lawler, Fletcher Whan, Eva Goodwin and Blake Eather. Under-11s: Back, Lewis Penberthy, Ollie Ford, Tyreake Dixon, Sonny French, Oliver Lehmann, Eddie Lowick, Romeo Backhouse-Smith, Cooper Mason, front, Dreyden Hall, Lucas Summers-Lawler, Tyran Lawler, Fletcher Whan, Eva Goodwin and Blake Eather.

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League secretary Mel Manchee told The Courier that the local club and its committee were proud of the under-7s champions, as well as all Narrabri sides, and they were really pleased with how the day ran.

“We actually had a really great day,” Manchee said.

“There were 60-odd games played and the weather was good to us. The sun came out towards the end of the day, which was nice.

“Everything ran relatively smoothly and our Souths trip committee in the canteen did amazingly well, so thanks to everybody who supported that.”

The carnival was the club’s first since 2019 after the 2020 and 21 events were cancelled due to restrictions put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was great to see Cooma Oval full again,” Manchee said.

“It was so good to have everyone out and about in Narrabri again and being able to mingle with other people and catch up with other clubs that we see regularly at other events.”

While it ran smoothly on the day, this year’s NDJRL carnival was initially in danger of not going ahead due to a lack of referees.

While that issue meant the under-6s division was non-competitive on the day, several dedicated referees turned up with their whistles to ensure the event could go ahead.

“A big thank you to all of our refs,” Manchee said.

“The majority came from Gunnedah, so a huge thanks to them.

“Hopefully in the future, we can see the referees’ association step up a bit and help us out.”

The Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League committee thanked all of the referees individually for their efforts, which included Nick Wild, Ben Manchee, Izzac Wise, Cruze Morley, Steve Bartz, Tom Mason and Matt McInnes.

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League also thanked its life member George Sanderson who does all of the scoring at the carnival every year.

“George is a very valuable asset to our club and we couldn’t run the day without him,” Manchee said.