The Boggabri Kangaroos’ quest to go one step further in the 2025 Group 4 Rugby League campaign got off to an ideal start on Sunday afternoon as they triumphed over the Wee Waa Panthers in just 67 minutes at Cook Oval.
The Kangaroos were beaten by the Moree Boars in last season’s grand final and they are now determined to get back to the big dance again this year, with that hunger evident throughout the round one clash as they defeated the Panthers 70-10.
The visitors outscored Wee Waa 12 tries to two and 11 conversions to one as they converted a 34-10 half-time lead into a 60-point victory after running in six unanswered tries in the second stanza.
One of Boggabri’s standouts in the 2024 campaign got the ball rolling early in the contest as winger Josefa Goneduadua crossed for a try in the eighth minute.
Fullback Ash White was unable to add the extras as the score remained 4-0, but that was the only conversion he missed all day as he nailed his next 11 from all areas of the park.
Andrew Wallace was next to score for Boggabri as the halfback went over in the 13th minute, and it became 18-0 when White converted debutant prop Avenai Juidreki’s 18th-minute try.
Wee Waa then hit back with two tries in eight minutes as Travis Houghton and Clifford Toomey got the home crowd excited and Toby Knight kicked one of the two conversions.
However, another of the Boggabri debutants Tevita Peceli had scored his first try wearing green and yellow in between those two Wee Waa four-pointer, so the scoreboard read 22-10 after 31 minutes of play.
It remained that way until the 37th when Pita Rogosau scored Boggabri’s fifth try of the day, and Goneduadua then bookended the try-scoring with his second just before the break.
White’s impressive kicking from the tee made the half-time score 34-10.
Wee Waa put up a fight early in the second half as it took Boggabri eight minutes to score their seventh try of the day, but the floodgates would then open after White converted a Rob Doolan try to make it 40-10.
Jack Hayes crossed three minutes later and Rogosau and Peceli had completed their doubles before the hour-mark arrived.
Malakai Kovekalou crossed in the 62nd minute before Wallace became the fourth Kangaroo to claim two tries in the match as he scored Boggabri’s 12th in the 67th minute.
Full-time was blown after White slotted his 11th conversion to make the score 70-10, and the Kangaroos’ coach Shane Rampling was pleased with the performance his men had produced.
“It was really good to kick off the season like that. It’s been a while since our trial game, so it was good to be back out there,” Rampling said.
“We were a bit rusty in that first half, but then when we kicked into gear, we were pretty solid and I was actually quite impressed. I was really happy with the result.
“In the first half-hour or so we were always in control, but we made six handling errors and gave away three penalties in that first half.
“Clifford Toomey was dangerous for Wee Waa and caught us napping a few times, but once we tightened up those drop balls and the discipline in the second half, we were a lot better.
“Our fitness and physical presence overwhelmed them in that second half and we were too hard to bring down. It was just relentless; one try after the other.
“Our forwards laid the platform and through quick play-the-balls we got to the edges and steamrolled them.
“It was a real good team effort, but I thought big Benny (Avenai Juidreki) our new front-rower was really good in his first game for us. He was hard to handle through the middle.
“Our halves (Andrew Wallace and Isaiah Adams) controlled the game, and Rob Doolan and Tevita (Peceli) in the centres were strong. Honestly, I could name everyone if I keep going.
“We have attacking options right across the park. We can go through the middle or out on the edges. If we can control the ball and complete our sets, we’ll be hard to hold down.”
It was a weekend full of away team winners in round one of the first grade campaign as the Werris Creek Magpies, North Tamworth Bears and Gunnedah Bulldogs all prevailed on the road.
The Magpies travelled to Boughton Oval on Saturday to challenge the defending champions, and it was the Moree Boars that led 24-16 with just over 10 minutes remaining. However, the Werris Creek men scored the final two tries and converted one of them to win the closest game of the round by two points.
The Bears also won on Saturday as they beat Dungowan Cowboys 36-12 at Dungowan Recreation Ground, then the Gunnedah Bulldogs played at Kootingal Sports Ground on Sunday and thrashed the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters 54-4 to kick off their season in style.
The other two games at Cook Oval were split, with Boggabri winning in reserve grade and Wee Waa taking out the ladies’ league tag match.
Boggabri are away from home again this Saturday when they challenge the Dungowan Cowboys at Dungowan Recreation Ground while Norths host the Roosters at Jack Woolaston Oval.
Sunday’s matches will see Wee Waa travel to David Taylor Oval to tackle Werris Creek, and Gunnedah host the Moree Boars at Kitchener Park
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