Mick Coffey gives Dangar Park and festival a huge tick of approval

The 2023 Santos Festival of Rugby was a huge success, and Narrabri Rugby Club president Mick Coffey could not have been any more pleased with how it ran across the three days.

The action was top-quality on the field, and the behaviour off the field from everyone involved was said to be commended.

Coffey felt proud to look around and see what the Blue Boars’ home base at Dangar Park had been transformed into, and said that he hoped that the event would return to Narrabri in the near future.

“It looks absolutely a million bucks,” he said of the Dangar Park festival setup on Saturday.

“Last time (the 2021 event), we all thought that was awesome, but it has improved out of sight.

“The corporate marquee over the other side in the middle and the gig rig are great additions, and they add so much more to the atmosphere.

“There was nothing wrong with the field last time either, but the parks and gardens guys at council, the two Michaels (Narrabri Shire Council’s Michael Gard and Michael Farrelly) have gone above and beyond.

“Their dedication has got it looking better than last time.

“The playing surface is outstanding.”

Coffey had the pleasure of finding out exactly how good the field was from first hand experience, as well as eyesight.

He was part of the Golden Oldies game on Friday afternoon a game that saw many of the club’s old boys pull on a Blue Boars shirt and bring the crowd to life, just as they had all done so many times before (see page 23 for a Pickled Porkers team photo).

The Blue Boars president was proud of the way his club helped organise and run the festival, and made special mention of his committee.

“A club is only as good as the people running it,” Coffey said.

“People talk the Blue Boars up and we cop a bit of tall poppy syndrome, and that’s because we always have a good hard-working committee.

“Our current committee is a diverse group of both young and old, male and female, and there’s a lot of players on the committee now too.

“It’s their time in the club, and there are a few old heads just to guide them along.

“They work their butts off.

“Alex Reed, our vice-president, she especially has put in a huge amount of effort.

“Everyone has pulled their weight and it’s a real team effort.

“It’s nice to see so man smiles on faces here.”

Coffey said that he was especially pleased with the fact that the rugby played across the two days was such high quality.

A personal highlight for the Narrabri Blue Boars’ president was watching former women’s team players Martha Harvey and Brooke McKinnon make their NSW Waratahs debuts.

“Martha and Brooke playing in the women’s game was great,” Coffey said.

“Brooke didn’t get the best ball but she did the best with the hand she was dealt. She was really good.

“I watched Martha closely off and around the ball and she was good.

“I teared up a bit when she ran out.

“I’ve known those Harvey kids since they were born, and I know how much it means to Martha and how much work she’s put in.

“She was great.”