The Narrabri Blues will be in safe hands for their comeback season in 2026, with first grade head coach Hayden Bell putting together a five-star support team around him as the pre-season nears.
Bell has been locked into the top role at the Blues for several months now, and he has since added former teammates Brodie Rumsby as his assistant coach and Peter Quirk as an assistant coach and team manager.
Determined to include plenty of wisdom and coaching experience as well, Bell has also locked in John Rumsby, Kevin Hill and Mark Lyon as coaching advisers.
Rumsby is the last coach to lead the Blues’ first grade side to a grand final back in 2017, Hill was the captain-coach of Narrabri’s most recent first grade premiership back in 1990, and Lyon was a part of that 1990 team and was also the team manager when the Jake Rumsby-coached Blues side won the minor premiership in 2021.
“These guys have so much knowledge of both Narrabri and rugby league,” Bell said.
“They are guys who always want to give back to the club.
“Kevin has been associated with NSW Rugby League for a long period of time and is the last captain-coach at Narrabri to win a premiership.
“John is a club legend. He’s a great football brain who has been around coaching for a long time and has had success.
“Mark has been around the club for a long time too. He’s always helping out and has so much knowledge.
“For myself, Brodie and Quirky, having these guys around us is going to really help us.”
The Blues have also locked in Kaitlyn Armitage as the club’s women’s coach for 2026. Armitage was set to take the reins this year before linking up with the Narrabri Blue Boars and winning a CNRU women’s 10s premiership with them after the Blues were unable to field any teams.
The club will host its AGM at the Narrabri RSL Club this Sunday.
To order photos from this page click here
