INVERELL Hawks celebrate their first premiership win this Saturday with a special Old Boys day at Varley Oval that has a fitting opponent.
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The Hawks won their first first grade premiership back in 1975 when they beat Moree in the old Group 5 (now Group 19) at the Showground.
They are also celebrating their premiership wins of 2000 when they won all three grades, first grade beating Glen Innes with current coach Peter Stevens their captain.
Making it a fitting day is the fact the Hawks play Moree Boars, the side they beat in 1975.
Making it even bigger is the fact the Hawks are top of the Group 19 ladder with Moree Boomerangs, just a win above the Moree Boars.
Hawks club president Garry Lavender, who played in the 2000 premiership-winning side, said many “old” Hawks are returning, including former captain-coach Rocky Laurie, Robbie McCormack, Peter Platter and Peter Malcolm.
Stevens also coached the 2000 Hawks side that beat Glen Innes at Varley Oval on a day where the club won all three Group 19 grades.
“You don’t see that very often,” Stevens said.
“That was a pretty good side. I also played (hooker) in the 1998 team.”
He’s looking forward to a big day and will use the emotion of the Old Boys to help boost his side which beat Warialda 88-10 last weekend.
“It’s going to be a big weekend,” he said. “Big for the club and big for the boys. Even bigger for us because if we beat the Boars we can put four points behind us.
“But we have to make it about our side, not the Old Boys.”
Stevens tinkered with his side last week, swapping Guy Mepham and Mick Hodge (lock and hooker), and was delighted with the form shown by Nick Dawson and Jayden Connors.
But one person who is hoping to spoil the Hawks’ Old Boys party is Moree coach Trevor Tighe.
“We need to win this one,” he said.
“It would be be nice to spoil their Old Boys’ weekend.
“We just need to turn up on the day and play good football, play the sort of football we know we can.”
Daniel Jobson and Stan Swan led the way last week for the Boars and they’ll be key men again along with the likes of Brenton Cochrane and Marshall Baker.
Barker was a little quiet last week after a big few weeks playing rep footy for the Greater Northern Tigers.
The Boars came through last weekend’s win unscathed and will be a dangerous foe for the Hawks this afternoon on a weekend where Moree Boomerangs host Ashford Roosters at Burt Jovanovich Oval tomorrow.
Warialda and Guyra meet at the Guyra Sporting Complex today and Armidale is at home against Glen Innes today.