The Narrabri Blues have rushed former North Tamworth and Kootingal-Moonbi pivot Chris Hunt into their starting lineup for Saturday's home clash against Werris Creek.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hunt was to have played at Kootingal this season but was cleared by the Group 4 board this week to transfer to Narrabri.
Blues captain-coach Jake Rumsby is delighted to have the versatile Hunt on board after the side suffered a "horrendous" injury toll.
Read also:
"He's going to be very handy for us," Rumsby said. "I played in the Group [4 rep] side with him and know what he's like."
He added: "We've had a horrendous year with injury and he will also help us out in the middle.
"He's a winner, played in premierships-winning sides and wants to play first grade."
Hunt has been named at five-eighth this round.
Toby Bentley has been named at halfback, with Todd Nichols going to hooker to replace his brother, Jake, who is playing rugby in a big clash with Pirates in Tamworth on Saturday.
"We do have Jobbo (Daniel Jobson) coming back (from suspension) and he's going to make a big difference to our pack too," Rumsby said.
"He wants to make up for missing last week with a big one against Werris Creek.
"They are danger team, as they showed when they beat Norths, and it's a massive game for us. We can leapfrog Kootingal if Norths beat them and we win."
He said next weekend's bye round will come at a good time for his side, as it will allow players to recover from injury.
One of those players is Sam Sadler.
"He got the three points last week (in a losing side)," Rumsby said of Group 4's best and fairest award.
"He deserved them too. He's been playing with an injury and will play with a niggle again (on Saturday). He's been great for us [at centre]."
Sadler has moved back to the second-row, with the versatile Daniel Howe moving to prop.
Narrabri: 1 Damon Gleeson, 2 Lachlan Trindall, 3 Dennis Gordon, 4 Hayden Bell, 5 Mark Patterson, 6 Chris Hunt, 7 Toby Bentley, 8 Daniel Jobson, 9 Todd Nichols, 10 Daniel Howe, 11 Sam Sadler, 12 Jayden Hayne, 13 Jake Rumsby (c/c), 14 Jed Smith, 15 Kaleb McMillan-Bassett, 16 Brodie Rumsby, 17 Travis Small.
Werris Creek: 1 Jesse Munro, 2 James Bates, 3 Riley Leonard, 4 Dion Reid, 5 Tyren Cloake, 6 Isaah Millgate, 7 Harlee Millgate, 8 Cody Tickle (c), 9 Dylan Porter, 10 Marcus Doran, 11 Nick Hanrahan, 12 Kieran Williams, 13 Zac Leonard, 14 Dwight Millgate, 15 Charlie Parsons, 16 Ian Reid, 17 TBA.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark northerndailyleader.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News