Geoff Sharpe: Kooty coach says the hits are definitely harder this year | Group 4

Sharpe - whose second-placed side meet sixth-placed Boggabri at home on Saturday in a round-six clash - is "100 per cent" convinced the defensive punishment being meted in 2021 is at another level.

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He thinks that might be the result of players being extra fired up after the 2020 competition was cancelled due to COVID. Players had also "bulked up", he said.

There were no easy games this season, he continued, adding that the Roosters very physical round-four encounter against Narrabri was followed by another "bashathon" against Dungowan last round. Kooty won both matches.

He said: "We haven' been able to put a solid Tuesday [training session] together for a couple of weeks now, just because the boys have been a bit sore."

He added: "Every time you turn up, if you're not on the boys are gonna come at you hard - the opposition. It's been pretty impressive, the physicality."

Sharpe said he "fully expects" games "to get even tougher" after the June long weekend bye round next weekend.

Kootingal-Moonbi veteran Kyle Cochrane is one of those players who bulked up - so much so that Sharpe moved him from centre to the front-row in the 26-14 defeat of Narrabri at Rugby Park.

His menacing form in that match was replicated in the 30-20 defeat of the Cowboys at Dungowan.

But he injured his leg against Boggy and was doubtful for Saturday's clash.

"He's damaging wherever I put him," said Sharpe, who delayed naming his side due to injury concerns.

After five rounds, only four points separate first-placed North Tamworth and sixth-placed Boggabri. Three sides - Norths, Kootingal-Moonbi and Narrabri - are on eight points, while fourth-placed Gunnedah are on six points.

Boggabri coach Shane Rampling is hoping his side can finally start well as they look to build on last week's 22-18 win over Werris Creek.

"We haven't started well our last four games," he said. "Got to get that right and give ourselves a chance."

The Roosters and the Bears were the competition "benchmarks", he added.

He has named former Wee Waa and Narrabri forward Neil Gibbs in the run-on side, although he was battling the flu.

"We've been trying to get some match fitness into him the last few weeks," he said. "He brings size and aggression. Hopefully he will be right."

Meanwhile, Gunnedah have named a largely unchanged side for their home clash against Moree on Sunday - with Zak Turnbull and Hayden Jaeger being added to the starting pack.

Moree fullback Tom Ryan has returned to the side after missing last week's loss to North Tamworth, while Brenton Cochrane has been named in the Boars' side but did not train on Thursday night.

"He's still under a bit of a [injury] cloud," said Boars captain-coach Ben Williams.

Elsewhere, Narrabri host Dungowan on Saturday and Norths travel to Werris Creek on Sunday.

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