Bryson Luff
A huge crowd is expected at Coolah’s Bowen Oval tomorrow (Saturday 26 April) to watch the action between the Kangaroos and the Narromine Jets in the opening round of the 2025 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League competition.
The home side (pictured above with the 2024 premiership trophy) will be out to retain the Boronia Cup in what will be their sixth defence of the time-honoured piece of silverware.
That would also extend the Coolah Kangaroos unbeaten record from 2024 on the ground as well as getting their 2024 premiership defence underway in the best fashion.
While not too much can be written into the ‘Roos form during the pre-season knockout, they no doubt looked impressive in claiming back-to-back Castlereagh Knockout Shields a fortnight ago at Warren, scoring 56 points in their three games and only conceding six.
The Jets opted not to play in the knockout, instead hosting a trial game at Narromine.
They are an unknown quantity going into the 2025 season but most certainly they will be out to erase the memory of their last trip to Bowen Oval, which saw the curtain come down on their 2024 season with a 28-10 loss to the ‘Roos in the preliminary final.
The League Tag fixture between the Coolah Flyers and the Jets should also be an intriguing game as it’s a replay of the 2024 grand final that provided a high quality tussle between the two quality sides, with the Jets coming away with the premiership 14-10.
Warren’s Victoria Park is also expected to be jam-packed, when the Warren Bulldogs make their return after an extended absence. If the hometown support shown for the Doggies at the recent Castlereagh knockout is anything to go by then the Cobar Roosters can expect a loud and boisterous reception.
Though the home ground will certainly be an advantage to the Bulldogs they are up against a Cobar side that was runners-up last year and will be out to go one better in 2025.
Other games will be played at Coonamble, Coonabarabran, and Baradine.
At Coonamble the Bears will play host to the resurgent Dunedoo Swans.
The Grizzlies are always a tough nut to crack at home, but the Swans would be buoyed by their promising display at the knockout, one which saw them make it through to the final.
Similarly, the clash at Coonabarabran between the Unicorns and Bull Terriers presents itself as a very unpredictable contest with both teams seemingly in a rebuilding phase with plenty of youth in the ranks.
At Baradine the Pink Panthers will fly the Gilgandra flag against the Baradine Magpies.
2025 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League:
Round One, Saturday 26 April
Coolah v Narromine, Warren v Cobar, Coonamble v Dunedoo, Coonabarabran v Gulgong, Baradine v Gilgandra.
Round Two, Saturday 3 May
Coonabarabran v Warren, Gulgong v Baradine, Narromine v Dunedoo (Jessica Skinner Challenge Cup), Coolah v Cobar, GilgandravV Coonamble.
Click here for venue and kick-off details.
