The Coolah Kangaroos celebrated their comeback to competition football with an emphatic 32-8 victory over the Cobar Roosters to claim the 2024 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League First Grade Premiership.
Having beaten the ‘Roos just two weeks ago in the major Semi-final and playing on their beloved Tom Knight Memorial Oval in front of huge number of Cobar supporters, the Roosters would have liked their chances of adding to their trophy cabinet going into Saturday’s Grand Final.
However, it was to be the visitors, who certainly also had their share of fans at the ground, who got away to great start after their centre Josh Charles made a strong charge at the line which attracted several defenders. His quick play-the-ball saw play shift to his winger Jake Burgess, who was able to step inside the scrambling defence to go over wide out for a 4-0 lead.
Play continued with end-to-end from both sides until Charles was able to spear over under the posts midway through the half for his second try to make it 10-0.
After a Rooster was sin binned for holding a player down, the ‘Roos made a long incursion into Cobar territory, and it didn’t take long for Coolah to take advantage of the extra man with prop Casey Burgess barging over from close range. Dan Lane added the extras to ballon Coolah’s lead to 16-0.
Cobar steadied the ship to some extent when their centre Nathan McAndrew benefited from some nice ball work out the back line to make it 16-4.
The Roosters lifted and after a Coolah player was binned with ten minutes left in the first half they were in again when back-rower Tim Hillam forced his way over to reduce the deficit to 16-8.
However, they couldn’t stop Coolah scoring before the break after Jayden Brown was able to ground a perfectly placed grubber kick from Chanse Burgess out wide. Lane landed the conversion from the sideline to extend the lead to 22-8 at half-time.
The two sides were deadlocked in the second half until Burgess scored his second try after being on the end of a sweeping backline movement.
Coolah captain Chanse Burgess put the icing on the premiership cake when he scored with four minutes remaining. Lane completing proceedings with a conversion for a convincing 32-8 win.
The result completed a remarkable year for the Kangaroos, with their first-grade side losing just one game to Cobar in the major Semi-final. They also had their League Tag Team, the Coolah Flyers, feature on Grand Final day going down narrowly to the unbeaten Narromine Jets.
The Flyers were well in the contest with the score reading 4-all at half-time and then 10-all well into the second half until a Jets try with seven minutes remaining in the game broke the deadlock to deliver them a 14-10 victory and back-to-back premierships.
The Youth League decider between the Cobar Roosters and the Gulgong Bull Terriers also featured a close and exciting game, with extra time having to be played after the two sides were locked together 12-all at the end of regulation time. In the end the home side just prevailed, winning 18-16 to the delight of the vast Cobar crowd.
The opening game of the day saw the Gilgandra Panthers and the Baradine Magpies clash in reserve grade, with Gilgandra scoring four tries to three to come away with an 18-14 win.
Individual players were recognised for their efforts throughout the year and in the Grand Finals.
Gilgandra’s Curtis Carr was named the Player of the Grand Final in reserve grade, whilst Cobar’s young gun, Reece Josephson won both the Castlereagh Youth League Player of the Year award as well as being named the Player of the Grand Final.
Shian Chatfield, from Narromine Jets, was awarded the Castlereagh League League Tag player of the Year, whilst her teammate Emily Edwards was acknowledged as the Player of the Grand Final.
In first grade Coolah’s hard-running centre, Josh Charles, who has been a standout for his team throughout the finals, was awarded Player of the Grand Final. Gulgong’s Brad James became the first player in the history of Castlereagh Rugby League to win Player of the Year for the third time.
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