Boggabri Kangaroos and Wee Waa Panthers to compete for the JT Memorial Cup on Sunday

Group 4 Rugby League’s 2025 season will be firing on all cylinders from this weekend when the first grade sides line up for their round one fixtures.

Three of the four matches will be played on Saturday when defending champions Moree Boars host Werris Creek Magpies, Dungowan Cowboys welcome North Tamworth Bears, and Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters host the Gunnedah Bulldogs.

The match of the round for Narrabri Shire footy fans will take place at Cook Oval on Sunday when the Wee Waa Panthers welcome the Boggabri Kangaroos to town.

The two clubs’ first grade sides will take the field for the first time in the 2025 campaign, while their reserve grade teams will be playing for their second wins in as many matches and their women’s sides will all be playing for their first points.

All four games between the Panthers and the Kangaroos will see them not only competing for valuable points on the Group 4 ladders, but also for early points in their pursuit of the Jeremey ‘JT’ Toomey Memorial Cup.

The cup will be played for annually between the two clubs to remember the late Jeremey Toomey, who sadly died suddenly and unexpectedly last month.

‘JT’ was a much-loved member of the Boggabri Kangaroos club and was highly respected within the Group 4 Rugby League community. He had previously been involved with the Panthers and the Narrabri Blues as well.

Results from all grades across the two clubs’ two meetings this season will go towards winning the cup.

Boggabri Kangaroos’ head coach Shane Rampling said it would be an honour to play in memory of JT, who was highly respected in Boggabri.

“We’ve got a cup and we’re going to be playing for it across all grades and at both grounds, so this weekend and then at our ground later in the year,” Rampling said.

“JT came to us from Narrabri and he was just an all-round fantastic guy.

“He did so much for the community and our club. He recruited players, he brought players with him, he coached and managed, he organised stuff for auctions and fundraisers,

“He was such a great guy and I’ve never heard one person say a bad word about him. He was that type of guy.

“He meant a lot to us and we’re all going to miss him deeply, and this cup will carry his legacy and his memory on.

“What he meant to us and to Wee Waa as well will never be forgotten.”

Rampling is coaching Boggabri for a seventh season in 2025. He joined the club back in 2018 for the Kangaroos’ maiden year back in the top division, and since then, the small-town team has improved greatly under his watch.

The experienced coach has helped develop the first grade side from the wooden spooners to grand finalists, and he is hopeful they can go one step further in 2025.

“We’re looking forward to round one and it’s just good to have footy back,” Rampling said.

“We’ve been training well and the boys are all really keen to kick off the season.

“Reserve grade obviously started the other week and had a good win, so we want to keep the momentum going.

“Wee Waa have improved a lot from what I hear, so it should be a good game, especially with the JT element for both clubs. There’s a bit more to play for now.

“It’s the official start of a new season and we’re really looking forward to competing week in and week out and getting better each week.

“I think our fitness is really good at the moment, and now I’m looking forward to seeing where we’re at this weekend.

“Getting to the grand final last year, you look back and acknowledge that we achieved a good thing by getting there.

“We want to use that momentum this year to go and get there again, but each season is a new season.

“It’s great to play in grand finals but they don’t come around easily. You have to work hard for them.

“The motivation is there for us to do it again and go one better this year but we just have to focus on getting through each game each week first.”