Former Blues boys boosting the Moree Boars in 2025

Three Narrabri Blues first grade minor premiership winners and great mates have reunited on the footy field this season and are in superb form for Group 4 Rugby League’s defending champions, the Moree Boars.

Daniel Jobson, Sam Sadler and Daniel Howe all played crucial roles in helping the Jake Rumsby captain-coached Narrabri side secure a first-placed finish in 2021. They achieved plenty during that season, including helping the Blues bring an end to North Tamworth’s 47-game home winning streak at Jack Woolaston Oval in a golden point thriller almost four years ago.

However, they had all gone their separate ways by the time the 2023 season had rolled around.

Jobson ended up at the Moree Boars where he won back-to-back minor premierships and the 2024 grand final, Sadler had a year off before returning to play for the Blues last year, and Howe played and coached at the Baradine Magpies.

The Boars had a slow start this year as they lost close games against the two undefeated sides Werris Creek Magpies and Gunnedah Bulldogs, but they have since outscored Dungowan Cowboys, Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters and Boggabri Kangaroos 140 points to 22 on a three-game winning streak to propel themselves into fourth place.

Sunday’s 46-12 victory in the grand final rematch at Boughton Oval saw Moree replace the Roos in fourth as the Boggabri men slipped to fifth.

Sadler said he was enjoying playing for his new club, especially with two of his good mates and teammates, and said the Boars were starting to find their groove in the 2025 season.

“It’s been a really good year so far. They are a really good bunch of boys to play with out there,” Sadler told The Courier.

“You can tell they are a premiership side just by the way they train and gel together.

“Playing with Jobo and Howey was the main reason I went out there. We all wanted to play together. It’s really good to play with those boys again.

“I’ve been playing a bit of everything; lock, second row and hooker; sort of been a utility at the moment. I’ve been really enjoying it.

“We should have beaten the Creek in round one. They got us in the last few minutes in that one. We turned over way too much ball. I missed the Gunnedah game with a rib cartilage injury, but reports of that game sound like it was much of the same. Lost it towards the end.

“Dungowan and Kooti, we really clicked and gelled together, and then Boggi was probably the best 65 to 70 minutes we’ve played so far this year. We slackened off a bit in the last 10 or so minutes but we were really good for most of the game. We went down to 12 men late with a sin bin and Boggi put three quick tries on us.

“Boggi are a really good team. They are big and physical. It’s probably the first game from the bell we had started really well and done everything right, so if we can keep doing that, we’re going to be a pretty tough team this year.”

Jobson, Sadler, Howe and their Moree teammates are now looking forward to a blockbuster battle this Saturday when they take on North Tamworth Bears away from home at Jack Woolaston Oval. The Boars will join Norths on eight points if they can get the job done.

They are currently three points off top spot as they look to secure a third straight minor premiership in 2025.