GROUP 19 premiers Moree Boomerangs are looking to ride their wave of success even further by challenging Group 4 winners Wests to a champion of champions clash in the next few weeks.
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The Rangs capped a remarkable season by winning Sunday’s Group 19 first grade premiership, confirming they are once again a formidable team four years after they were allowed back into the competition.
The club spent 12 years watching football rather than playing after on and off-field incidents had other clubs refusing to play them and eventually a ban from all competition in the late 90s.
Last Sunday saw the club put that chapter to bed and open a new chapter, a chapter that is purely about football and the community that supports the club.
Moree beat Gwydir 48-22 in Sunday’s grand final, an emotional victory for the re-emerging club.
The Rangs displayed the structure and discipline that coach Chris Binge has forged into them all year before exploding in the final ten minutes to play traditional Rangs football and bring the crowd to their feet.
“We got the monkey off our back,” Binge said.
“The club has learnt a hell of a lot and made some hard decisions on and off the field and it has paid off.”
The coach said the side played an almost perfect game.
“The completion rate was above 90 per cent, and in the second half we only let in one try and gave away one penalty,” he said.
“We trained all year for this game and we all sacrificed a lot.”
When Binge took over, he laid down a set of disciplines and standards that the players, committee, and even supporters had to abide by, not only at football but also at home.
“Anyone who did not meet the demands and expectations got left behind while the club went forward.”
“Getting back in the comp was a big thing but this is the next step forward.”
“When the Rangs are going well the community is going well – it is a unique club.”
The team and committee have already had a meeting to plan for the future of the club, not even a week after winning the premiership.
“This is just the start. We are going to get bigger, better, and stronger,” Binge said.
“I have talked to the boys and we want this to be the start of a dynasty, we want to be the best country rugby league club in Australia.”
