MOREE’S Weebolla Bulls has started the Central North Rugby season in fine fashion by comfortably knocking over Gunnedah.
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The Bulls proved too strong on home soil as their season commenced with a 43-10 victory.
Prior to the clash, coaches Simon Hall and Andrew Pauli said they had a bit to ponder as they kicked off their 2016 charge. The Bulls enter the season confident they’ve got a side that can again challenge for the premiership, even perhaps go one better.
Fitness has been a big focus in the pre-season.
“Definitely last year we weren’t fit enough,” Pauli said. “You could tell the boys were sucking in air rather than looking at what they should be doing next.”
Their main pre-season hit-out was their annual clash against Goondiwindi.
“That was a good chance to see some of the new players who have arrived, who were pretty impressive,” Pauli said.
“We’ve got about six or seven new faces and a bit of talent in amongst them.”
That was a good chance to see some of the new players who have arrived, who were pretty impressive.
- Andrew Pauli
It’s created some tough decisions for him and Hall. They’ve probably got 22 players pushing for 15 spots.
The back row for instance, there’s probably four players jostling for two positions.
“There’s good competition for spots, which is a healthy position to be in,” he said.
There were a couple of notable omissions from Saturday’s lineup such as Ben Colley, Jordan Cosh and Heath Riggs.
Despite that, one game in and the Bulls sit in second spot just behind the Tamworth Pirates on the competition ladder. The Pirates were round one’s other big winners, clinching an easy 81-3 win over Scone.
Narrabri beat Barraba 27-19, Walcha defeated Quirindi 40-10 and Inverell had a slender win over Tamworth 33-29.
Moree claimed all the points in the second grade clash after Gunnedah forfeit. The Bulls will take on Narrabri next Saturday at Narrabri’s Dangar Park.
