Blues score win number one against the Panthers

Narrabri Blues are off the bottom of the Group 4 Rugby League first grade ladder but their first win of the 2024 campaign was marred by controversy on Sunday.

The Blues travelled to Cook Oval to challenge Wee Waa Panthers in round nine as the first half of the season came to an end.

The Narrabri men charged out to a 24-0 lead after piling on five tries in 23 minutes, enjoying great success down the left edge as their centre Dylan Segundo crossed for a hat-trick and back-rower Feliti Meteo also went over.

The Blues’ second try of the game was scored by Jeff Harvey as the prop was far too strong for the Wee Waa defence off a crash play between the sticks.

Clifford Toomey Junior slotted two conversions as the Blues ran out to a 24-point lead before the game was cut short.

There had been two send-offs and three sin-binnings by the 23rd minute as the emotion of the local derby proved to be too much for some to handle.

Reports of verbal abuse towards match officials is believed to have led to referee Ryan Schmiedel calling off the game, but that has not been officially confirmed by Group 4 Rugby League.

The Panthers were responsible for two sin-binnings and both send-offs, and Narrabri had one player sent to the sin bin.

Group 4 Rugby League will host a meeting tonight to discuss the match and the incidents involved.

It is expected that Narrabri will be awarded the two points but will not have the 24 points they scored added to their for column on the competition ladder.

Narrabri’s coach Glenn Collins told The Courier he was thrilled with the way that his side played before the match was called off and was proud of their behaviour.

“It was a bit of a different game,” Collins said.

“I think the Narrabri lads can hold their heads up high, but we really needed the extra 60-odd minutes, not the 23 minutes that we got.

“In that 23 minutes, it was exactly what I wanted though. The boys were really good.

“Even though it was the local derby we just kept playing football. I think we would have had it done by half-time.

“I think the boys have taken some confidence out of that 23 minutes. We were on top, and if we had have kicked all of our goals it would have been 30-0.

“We were doing it with ease because the boys were sticking to the structure and doing everything we planned.

“We usually do that for 20 minutes, and I really wanted to see if we could do it for 80.”

Collins said he was confident that his side’s performance could be the catalyst for a much better second half of the season.

The Blues lost their first seven games this year before sitting out with the bye in round eight ahead of the June long weekend.

Having only played 23 minutes in three weeks, they will understandably have plenty of rust to run out this Saturday when they host Kootingal-Moonbi at Collins Park, but Collins is looking for his men to continue their momentum that they gathered at Cook Oval.

The Blues were also victorious in the ladies league tag and under-18s matches against Wee Waa on Sunday.

The Blues thumped the Panthers 48-0 in the under-18s match as they outscored the hosts nine tries to none and six goals to none.

Jack Anderson crossed for four tries and his teammates Isaiah Cochrane, Braedon Mason, Cohen Tout, Koopa Thompson and Declan Rooney all scored a try each.

Rooney kicked three conversions and Cochrane, Mason and Thompson kicked one each.

Narrabri Bluebirds edged out Wee Waa Panthers 16-14 in the league tag game.

Lidia McCauley scored two tries for Narrabri and teammate Tess Redfern scored the other.

Tashanny Clark kicked their only conversion.

For Wee Waa, Valerie Orcher and Bella Cruickhank crossed for a try each and Kristie Toomey kicked two conversions.

Wee Waa have the bye in round 10 and Narrabri host Kootingal-Moonbi.