As is their wont, two of Group 4's longtime premier performers, Chris Vidler and Brenton Cochrane, took it upon themselves to try and ignite their respective side to victory at Kootingal on Sunday.
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The cold weather made the crucial clash between Kootingal-Moonbi and Narrabri uncomfortable viewing, but Vidler and Cochrane were their usual red-hot selves.
In the end, it was Vidler's Roosters who prevailed - the score blowing out to 44-22 at full-time after veteran front-rower Vidler inspired his side to rebuff the persistent Cochrane-led Blues charge.
The home was never headed after No.11 Logan Howard crossed out wide in the fourth minute. They led 20-10 at half-time, then 26-10 early in the second half.
But at this stage, Cochrane, knowing Narrabri had to win to keep their finals hopes alive, was launching waves of attacks from dummy half that resulted in tries to five-eighth Isaiah Adams and back-rower Jess O'Neil and reduced the margin to 26-22.
But then Vidler sparked the Roosters' resurgence, throwing his muscular frame at the defence at speed, probing for defensive chinks. His reward was two tries and a win that kept alive third-placed Kooty's chances of finishing second.
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If the Roos upset Werris Creek in the last round on Saturday, the Roosters will finish second and play North Tamworth in the finals - the winner advancing to the grand final.
However, the most likely scenario is that undefeated Norths and Werris Creek will finish one and two, with Kooty hosting Gunnedah in the elimination final.
Vidler said the Roosters once again made too many mistakes and got "lazy" at times against Narrabri. "But we'll slowly learn from that, and hopefully in the finals we can pick it up and get the results we need," he said.
Kootingal-Moonbi 44 (Logan Howard 2, Chris Vidler 2, Weill Saunders, Leroy Livermore, Ryley Taylor, Jack Rumsby, Nicholas Pascoe tries; Sam Taylor 2, Nicholas Pascoe, Kyle Cochrane goals) d Narrabri 22 (Isaiah Adams 2, Brady Jenkins, Jess O'Neil tries; Brenton Cochrane 3 goals)