Bryson Luff
After seeing off Warren Bulldogs in their Boronia Cup Challenge game at Coolah last Saturday, the Coolah Kangaroos have claimed the 2025 Castlereagh League Minor Premiership with two competition rounds remaining.
The ‘Roos, who play their final two games at home against Coonamble (Round 13) and Coonabarabran (Round 14) can start preparations to host the Major Semi-final that will be played at Bowen Oval on Saturday 17 August.
It could be a case of double celebrations for Coolah club with their League Tag side, the Coolah Flyers, also undefeated this season and needing only to win one of their two remaining games for the Kangaroos to claim a second Minor Premierships.
The Kangaroos have enjoyed plenty of success recently with the trophy cabinet already containing the 2024 Premiership Cup and Shield along, with the Boronia and Jessica Skinner Challenge Cups.
The remaining four Semi-final berths are still to be determined in what is shaping as an exciting finish to the season.
Narromine Jets have given themselves a shot at finishing second when they downed the Coonabarabran Unicorns 23-16 at Narromine last Saturday. That win has them trailing the Unicorns by only one point in third place.
If Coonabarabran loses to either Cobar this Saturday or Coolah in the final round, and Narromine defeat both Warren and Cobar in their remaining matches, then the red and whites will have secured second spot and the right to host the Qualifying Semi-final.
Mathematically, Gulgong can also finish in second position if both Coonabarabran and Narromine lose both of their remaining games after they defeated the Dunedoo Swans 28-12 at Dunedoo Last Saturday.
The Bull Terriers will be banking the competition points next weekend courtesy of having the bye before hosting Coonamble Bears in the final round.
The Bears sit on 24 competition points, equal with the Cobar Roosters, but have two tough assignments coming up, playing both Coolah and Gulgong in away games.
Similarly, the Roosters face tough opposition, having to travel to Coonabarabran this Saturday before taking on the Narromine Jets at Tom Knight Oval in the final round.
The Bears registered a 64-12 win over the Baradine Magpies at Coonamble last Saturday and whilst the Magpies are not in Semi-final contention, they can put a big dent in Dunedoo’s aspirations of a top five finish if they can down the Swans this coming Saturday at Baradine.
The Swans, who are two competition points below both Cobar and Coonamble, have the bye in the final round so a win for them against the Magpies is vital to if they are to have any hope of making the finals. Even with a victory they will still be relying on other results to go their way.
The match of the round this Saturday will be played at Coonabarabran with the Unicorns desperate for a win to hang on to second spot on the ladder and the Cobar Roosters just as equally desperate for victory to keep their Semi-final hopes alive.
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