The Magpies will now face the winless Bundarra today, looking for their third win on the trot before the club has a three-week break, with a bye and a round bye interrupting their season just as they start to build some momentum.

Brown was huge in the game against the Roos, carting the ball up the middle all day and threatening with his ability to offload while also stinging in defence as the big Boggabri pack returned the favour.

The lead changed hands four times in the opening half as the sides went try for try, before a full field intercept try to Magpies custodian Marty Shaw swung the game in the home side’s favour with two more quick tries sealing the deal in the final ten minutes.

For the front-rower, Boggabri is a challenge the club relish every season.

“Boggy are always hard and tough,” Brown said.

“And it is always all footy and no rubbish – I like that.” 

The Roos always play a simple game of trying to get on the front foot in the middle before spreading it wide, and the Magpies knew they had to match that if they wanted to take the points.

“We knew we had to do the simple things right before doing anything fancy and we spoke about going forward early and laying that platform,” Brown said.

“They were a bit short so we knew we could take it out of them in the middle and get them blowing hard.” 

The plan worked, with the Roos unable to keep up the defensive effort that had been keeping the Magpies at bay in the opening half, and the prop wants to see that effort continue through the season.

“We haven’t quite clicked yet as a team but it will come with more game time,” Brown said.

“The big breaks are good for getting niggles out of the side but not real good for match fitness and getting our communication and combinations working.

“The best thing about second division is that it is pretty evenly matched so it should be a good season.” 

Today will see some more good match-ups, with the two unbeaten sides, Uralla and Dungowan, on the road to Wee Waa and Kootingal respectively.