AFTER breaking through to claim a first home premiership since 1982 last year, Narrabri broke another couple of droughts at Weebolla Oval on Saturday as they conquered Moree 30-20 to be crowned Central North champions again.
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It was another classic battle between the two old rivals, with the Blue Boars, while ahead from the third minute of the game, not really able to shake the Bulls off until about 10 minutes to go.
They did always look the most likely though and prevailed to claim back to back premierships for the first time since the early 80s when they won three in a row.
That run ended with the 1982 side, whose feats they emulated last year.
There wasn’t the same euphoria of the 50th anniversary or weight of expectation this year but the win was just as special.
It was their first outright (they did share the title with the Bulls in 2004) at Weebolla since 2002 and was made all the sweeter by their defeat there two years ago.
“This has washed away the scars of 2013,” an elated coach Hunter Harley said.
They were outplayed then but took the lessons they learned that day on board.
“They taught us how to play footy that year,” Harley said.
“We had to emulate that.”
One of the big things was maturity.
“Since then we’ve developed that maturity,” Harley said.
They didn’t panic when they got behind.
Not that they were behind on Saturday but the Bulls twice fought back to within a point.
First at half-time and then early in the second half.
But they just stayed composed and knuckled down again.
“I felt we played better than we played in the grand final last year,” Harley said.
“This victory was a more complete performance.”
The Blue Boars weren’t the only ones to trample on the Bulls’ parade, with Inverell earlier snuffing out their hopes of a third straight second grade premiership with an emphatic 27-15 win after Pirates had claimed the colts double, the 18s in thrilling fashion.
