Narrabri Rugby Club to go in search of third straight CNRU women’s premiership

Narrabri Rugby Club’s women’s team will have a chance to make more Central North Rugby Union history this Saturday when they take on the Tamworth Pirates in the 2025 women’s 10s division grand final at Moree’s Weebolla Oval.

The Blue Boars have consistently found ways to raise the bar to new heights during the past 18 months, and they managed to do so again in this year’s competition after going through the entire regular season on a 12-game winning streak to become the first undefeated minor premiers.

That also saw them become the first women’s team in the zone to win the minor premiership three years in a row.

They then created more history in the major semi-final last month when they demolished the Pirates 63-12 in Gunnedah to advance to the big dance.

The 51-point winning margin was the largest in the history of the Central North women’s comp since it was introduced in 2018, and the Blue Boars also ensured they will become the first and only team to play in four straight women’s grand finals when they run out this weekend.

Should they win, they will be the first and only team to have won three straight premierships in the women’s division, and if that semi-final match-up was any indication, it is going to take a massive effort from the Pirates to stop them.

The Blue Boars girls have beaten Tamworth a combined 111-34 across their three games so far this year, but grand finals are a different beast, and Tamworth will be desperate to flip the script when it matters most as they go in search of their first women’s premiership since they defeated Narrabri in the 2022 decider.

The Blue Boars’ coach Andrew Gale said he was completely blown away by what his playing group had achieved so far this season, and he is confident they have what it takes to get the job done when it matters most.

“The girls 100 per cent deserve to be here. They’ve worked really hard this year and they’ve taken their opportunities when they’ve had them,” Gale told The Courier.

“To go through the season undefeated is just absolutely amazing, and even though it’s never been done before, they’re so level-headed about it.

“They’ve worked hard and they’ve trained hard, and it’s been a really long season. We worked them really hard back in the pre-season on their fitness too, and that’s paid off during the season.

“I’m super proud of the girls. This is the fourth in a row and going for a three-peat, which is pretty awesome. We’re proud of the girls and hopefully the town gets right behind us.

“That semi-final absolutely blew me away. Scoring 63 points against the Pirates; I did not see that coming. In a major semi-final, that’s pretty dominant.

“I think Pirates will come out a different team. Grand finals are totally different games. 100 per cent, it will come down to mentality.

“We have a calmness about us and we don’t seem to panic, which is a confidence in its own, I think. The more experienced girls like Peta and Toni and Cass and April and Shona help calm the girls. That’s what we’ll need on Saturday.

“I just want them to go out and play our game and to do the simple things early, like defence and maintaining possession. If we hold the ball, play to our speed and not theirs, and be patient, we’ll be okay.”

There are only five players remaining from the beginning of the Narrabri Blue Boars women’s 10s dynasty, the 2022 grand final loss against Pirates in Gunnedah in 2022, which include captain and co-coach Peta Cox, Toni Rae, Shona McFarland, April Smith and Carly Baxter.

Smith missed out on the 2023 final but was the player of the decider in 2024, and the other four players, as well as Cass Morley have formed the backbone of back-to-back premiership successes in the previous two seasons.

They have led the way with their experience and composure in 2025, while the newer players have bonded well with them and have made an instant impact during what the club expected to be a rebuilding year for the women’s team.

Lidia McCauley has steered the side around well at halfback throughout the season. A finger injury during training in the lead-up to the major semi-final saw her miss that match, but she will return off the bench this weekend.

Another 2025 debutant, Briana Anderson, has been outstanding on the wing this year and rose to the occasion when she stepped into the halfback role against Pirates last month. The 19-year-old will start there again in the decider.

Other Narrabri players like Jenna-Lee Binge and Kim Bange have gone to another level in their second seasons as Blue Boars this year, while 2025 debutants Kaitlyn Armitage, Belle Byrne, Laine McCauley and Claudia Penberthy have stepped up and made meaningful impacts that have far exceeded what is typically expected of first-year players.

Rachel Russell and Taylah Fogarty were also making similar impacts before their debut seasons were cut short early due to injury.

Those injuries and unavailability have meant the Blue Boars have played many of their games with either one or two players on the bench, and sometimes even no substitutes at all.

However, there will be four players on their bench for the first time this year on Saturday as the Blue Boars push for premiership glory once again in the 2025 Central North Rugby Union women’s grand final.

The women’s match will kick off at 11.30am.

Other kick off times are third grade at 10.30am between Pirates and Moree, second grade at 1pm between Moree and Pirates, and first grade at 3.15pm between Moree and Quirindi.