Gunnedah Rugby League Football Club is preparing to host the first Feast of Footy at Kitchener Park today and Bulldogs club president, David McCann, is excited about the innovation despite the rain.
He said Gunnedah had only had about 25 mm of rain yesterday and certain the four first grade fixtures would go ahead.
“It’s all systems go,” said David McCann.
“The boys trained on Kitchener on Thursday and you wouldn’t know anyone had been on it. It’s a real good surface here at the moment.”
Boggabri coach, Shane Rampling, is also “excited” about the prospect of seeing eight of the nine first grade sides play at Kitchener today.
“It’s exciting and we’re looking forward to it,” said Shane Rampling.
“It’s a great concept and also a chance for us coaches to check all the other sides.”
Rampling’s Kangaroos have, arguably, the toughest test on the Footy Feast. They play reigning premiers North Tamworth.
They have played two trials, winning against Coonamble at Boggabri and losing to Armidale in Armidale.
Rampling is in his sixth year as head coach at Boggabri and loving every second of it.
“Yeah, love it, they are a great club and a great bunch of people. And we are moving in the right direction. We’ve had good numbers at training and been training before Christmas. We’ve got a few new Fijians too plus Mitch Fletcher has come back from Gunnedah.”
“Norths are going to be super tough. They’ve recruited well and have been the benchmark of the competition. They’ve won the past eight premierships. We’ve got to control the ball and make sure our defence is solid. If we do, we’ll be in the contest.”
North Tamworth coach Paul Boyce knows full well how dangerous Boggabri is after the Roos scored a shock win over the Bears at Jubilee Oval, Boggabri in last season’s first round.
“You’ve got to turn up to play them, they are an honest side. We didn’t turn up with the right attitude last year and they had a good win.” said Paul.
Norths have the nucleus of last year’s premiership winning side “plus a few new faces”.
“We’ve got a couple of players making their debuts for the club,”
“Ryley McKay is looking good and Quinton Pomare-Anderson has come down from Townsville.
“All the boys have gelled pretty well.”
The North Tamworth-Boggabri game kicks off the Footy Feast at 10.45am Saturday. Then follow Kootingal-Narrabri (12.45pm), Dungowan-Moree (2.45pm) and Gunnedah-Werris Creek finalise Footy Feast with their 4.45pm kickoff.
Werris Creek coach Dave Stewart is looking forward to a good season and believes their newest Magpie, former Manilla and Dungowan star, Mitch Doring, will be a huge addition to the club.
“He scored three tries and kicked four goals in the trial at Cardiff,” said Dave Stewart.
“That was a great introduction. He looks like he’s been at the club for years. He looks like he’s had a new lease of life down here. He loves the game and we all love him. He also brings enthusiasm and his football brain. He plays that eyes up footy.”
While Doring has been named at halfback former captain-co-coach Cody Tickle, will come off the bench after returning from a serious hip dislocation last season.
“He’s just not quite right to start,” Dave Stewart said of the brilliant ball-playing backrower.
“We just thought it best he start off the bench with Paz (Beau Parry) and Charlie (Parsons). Cody can come off the bench with Mitchell Cox.”
Stewart said the return of Ronin Hadden (fullback) is a huge plus in a side bristling with attacking talent from the likes of Harlee Millgate, Nathaniel Slater and livewire hooker Dylan Porter.
Moree captain-coach Michael Watton has the nucleus of last year’s returning eager to go one better than their courageous Grand Final loss to Norths.
“We’ve got a lot of the boys from last year sprinkled with some new boys,” Michael Watton advise.
“Alex Barker junior is a really exciting young player. He’s electric and maybe as quick as Bobby (brilliant little fullback Adrian Smith).
“Chris (Vidler) and Jobbo (Daniel Jobson) are great props and Lachie McGrady has also joined us. He’s another exciting young player.”
Watton has experience and versality in his backline too with Brenton Cochrane named in the centres where the gifted and matchwinning pivot could utilise his speed and natural instincts.
Something going on in your part of the region you think people should know about? Send us a news tip or email newsdesk@netimes.com.au.