RUGBY LEAGUE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
THE Boomerangs have big plans for season 2014 and they all start tomorrow at Broughton Oval when they host the Group 19 Gala Day.
Like their name suggests they are planning to come back and win the premiership back-to-back after dominating the competition last year.
Nine sides will play in the compulsory tournament after Warialda withdrew from the group on Wednesday.
Three pools of three will play 20-minute halves across two fields for the one day tournament.
Each team will get two competition points for the 2014 season just for appearing.
The winners of each pool will then go into a finals series with one other mystery team.
The tournament with a twist will then draw one team out of a hat from the remaining sides to get a finals berth.
Club president Mitchell Johnston said the idea is to let the smaller side that might still be struggling with numbers the chance to play finals footy this early in the year.
“Regardless of how they are fairing during the day they still have a chance of making the finals,” Johnston said.
The Boomerangs have had a great pre-season taking out the Domestic Violence Cup last weekend.
A nail-biting finish saw them beat Narrabri in golden point extra time with a try after the bell.
Last year’s super coach Chris Binge is back, along with his strict code of conduct and fitness regime that saw them hold the shield up last September.
The side has kept almost all the players from last year, and also have some returning players, including an electric fullback.
Dylan Walford has returned after playing Group 4 with Wee Waa last season, and announced his return with three tries in the final last week.
Loyd Munro Jnr and Will Fernando have also come back to the club after a stint on the coast in Woolgoolga.
The Boomerangs won the competition last year under the orchestration of Jamie Sampson at half back.
Sampson won the best player award for the grand final last year and is already in top form this season.
“Jamie is back another year older and another year better,” Johnston said.
Sampson will once again combine with Rick Roberts at five-eight to feed the speedy backline the ball.
Warren Cain, Luke Raveneau, Mundurra Weldon and a few others will once again be dominating up the middle.
The Gala Day will kick off with some fireworks at 10am with the local derby as the Rangs clash with the Boars in their first game back in the group.