NARRABRI will make the familiar journey up the highway to defend their Central North title after outgunning Pirates 31-17 at Dangar Park on Saturday.
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It set up another showdown with the old enemy (Moree) for the premiership and the chance to go back to back for the first time since the early 80s.
“It’s good to make any grand final but three in a row, it’s a credit to the squad,” Blue Boars coach Hunter Harley said.
The core has been there for all three – the loss to the Bulls two years ago and the triumph last year.
On Saturday Pirates struck first, with prop Dave Irvine burrowing his way over after they’d snaffled a turnover and broken out through skipper Jake Douglas.
The Blue Boars hit straight back, with Henry Curtin crashing over after a set short side play from a scrum with half-back Matt Schwager peeling away to the right and drawing in the defence to free up winger Tom Lynch.
Pirates managed to drag Lynch down just short of the line, and then Tim O’Brien, but he was able to get the ball away and on the bounce Curtin picked it up.
Schwager converted to make it 7-all.
A couple of minutes later, Pirates were down to 14 for 10 with Mick Collyer yellow-carded for striking a player in the back play.
The Blues Boars took advantage, with Sean Russ swooping on a loose ball at the back to put the home side ahead 12-7 with just over 20 to go in the half.
Pirates came close a couple of times to replying but to no avail and with, just under five to go, found themselves down to 14 again, Sam Collins this time the culprit.
The Blue Boars again made them pay, with Lynch pushing his way out of a couple of tackles to score the first of two for the game on the stroke of half-time.
Schwager added the extras to make it 19-7 at the break.
Not to be outdone by his wing partner, Tim Vaughan produced some vintage play to tip the scales further in the Blue Boars’ favour early in the second half.
The winger wound back the clock, steaming onto a grubber and then running around two defenders to make it 26-7 with the conversion.
There was still half an hour to go then but, with the way that they were playing, Harley thought that sealed it for them.
“I thought we had the game when we put points on first in the second half,” he said.
If they didn’t then, then they did when Douglas was forced off not long after, after copping a knock to the head.
Pirates did salvage some hope with Collins scoring off a driving maul but it was only brief, with Lynch chiming in from the left wing and proving too hard to stop for his second.
From there they just controlled the game.
Harley was a bit disappointed with some of their defence but couldn’t really fault their attack.
“Kenny (Anderson) controlled the game well at 10 and Sean Russ gave us that class at 13,” he said.
Anderson was only a late inclusion at 10 after Henri Knight withdrew on Friday.
Knight was himself filling in there after Jake Packer broke his finger against the Bulls.
Earlier the Bulls won a one-point thriller in second grade 22-21 to earn a rematch with Inverell, while Barraba and Tamworth shared the colts’ honours.
The Rams won the 18s 34-12 after the Magpies claimed the 16s’ grand final berth 22-8.
