Narrabri coach Hunter Harley says they will have to be a lot better if they are to get the points when the biggest rivalry in the Central North competition reignites on Saturday.
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The Blue Boars and Moree is always one of the most-anticipated match-ups of the season.
Both sides enter the game ensconced in the top four and coming off wins, albeit contrasting ones with the Bulls trouncing Scone and the Blue Boars having a narrow escape against Inverell.
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Down 36-26 with just under 15 minutes to play, they snuck home 37-36 thanks to late tries to replacement forwards Todd Farrer and Mitch Wheaton.
Both have been elevated to the starting side for Saturday and will team up in the second row for what will be for both their first start this season.
Harley is hoping they will bring that bit of physicality that they were missing last week, especially around the breakdown, which meant the ball coming back to half-back Matt Schwager was slow.
The breakdown has been a big focus this week, as has defence.
For Harley the latter was probably the most disappointing aspect of the performance against the Highlanders, "uncharacteristically" missing a lot of first-up tackles.
They won't be able to afford to do that against the Bulls.
The Bulls have been a bit inconsistent through the first six rounds but Harley is expecting "a huge challenge", especially being at Weebolla.
The first of a couple of tough games for the Blue Boars with competition leaders Gunnedah next week, they have been bolstered by the return of McDonnell brothers Matt and Will, although will be without Knight brothers Sam and Henri due to work commitments.
Elsewhere on Saturday the Red Devils will be looking to bounce back from last week's Walcha horror show when they host Scone, while Barraba will host the battle of the Rams.
TEAMS
NARRABRI: 1 Dan Baker, 2 Joe Maunder, 3 Will Turner, 4 Mitch Wheaton, 5 Todd Farrer (vc), 6 Nick Anderson, 7 Jack Maunder, 8 Matt McDonnell, 9 Matt Schwager (c), 10 Jacob Nichols, 11 James Albert, 12 Will McDonnell, 13 Jacob Booby, 14 Nick Tomlinson, 15 Jydon Hill.
WALCHA: 1 Richie Hunt, 2 James McLean, 3 Henry Leslie, 4 Lachie Holz, 5 Nat Brazel, 6 Edgar Bragg, 7 Sam Agar, 8 Wally Davidson, 9 Lachie Fletcher, 10 Dom Bower, 11 Charlie Keen, 12 Pat Keen, 13 Ed Cordingley, 14 Sam Lomax, 15 Ed Churchill (c), 16 Ross Monie, 17 Will Chaffey, 18 Toby Marshall, 19 Thomas Hoy, 20 Billy Porter, 21 George Berry, 22 Hamish Bell, 23 Jim Boyd
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