Into the finals
Originally published in The Nyngan Weekly
Nyngan supporters will be on the road one last time this weekend, heading to Dubbo for the under 16 rugby league grand final. Nyngan Junior Rugby League Club president Andrew Burley said that he is proud of the team from the ‘little town that could’.
Coming against clubs with access to significantly more players, Mr Burley laughed that the team is as much the western Tigers as the Nyngan Tigers, with players in the team coming from Brewarrina, Trangie, and Warren.
“[Getting into the grand final] was such a boost for the team. At the start of the year we looked like folding, but we hung in with the 10 or 12 players we had and used a few under 14s to top up the team,” he said.
By the end of the season though, the team was well-stocked with both players and experience. Mr Burley said there are a number of stand out players, with many having performed well in other competitions.
For some of the players, this won’t be their first grand final, and it is hoped this may quell some of the pre-game jitters.
The ‘nucleus’ of the team, as Mr Burley called them, has been playing together for several years, working their way up through the junior competition. To many, they resemble the 2022 under 18s side, which has also booked their spot in this weekend’s grand final.
“We’ve got a few newer ones, but they’ve played on and off last few years. The nucleus of the side have played together for a while though. We’ve got a mix of 15- and 16-year-old’s that have sort of come up the last few years.”
Mr Burley said a few of the players will age out next year, but he hopes that most of the 15-year-olds will go again next year.
Nyngan had a strong contingent of teams in the Dubbo District Junior Rugby League finals series this year. Mr Burley said he is proud of their efforts, and the way they represent Nyngan.
“We have a fairly good group of kids for a small town,” he said.
“For a small town to compete with these clubs like St John’s and South Dubbo, is fantastic. We’re facing Narromine this weekend, and we’re probably the two smallest towns, so for us to get up is great.
“When you’re up against Dubbo, and they’ve got such a wide array of players to pick from, but we’ve made the final, it shows how strong junior league is here.”
Just as strong is junior league tag, with Mr Burley’s under 17 team narrowly missing a spot in this weekend’s grand final in a hard-fought game last week.
“St John’s went out to an early lead and it was 12-nil at half-time. We cane back and lost by the two points. It was our best game of the year.
“They played really well, I’m so proud of them, and they came off smiling which is all you can ask for.”
Mr Burley said the team had been flogged by St Johns throughout the year, and he was very pleased with their efforts to get so close.
“At the start of the year I didn’t think we’d be in finals. We were sort of losing every game, but we improved every week and won the first final.”
It was a six-all draw in the final round that pushed the team just high enough on the ladder to make it into finals this year.
Mr Burley said he hopes that next year the team will be able to go one further.
Approximately six players will age out of junior football by next season, but Mr Burley is confident they will find their place in open league tag, with some already playing.
“Hopefully that are going out, hopefully they keep going and come to Nyngan opens next year.”
Mr Burley is confident that junior foot- ball in Nyngan will continue to grow and that there is plenty more talent to come through the ranks.
The Nyngan Tigers under 16 tackle team will face Narromine Jets in the grand final this Saturday at Apex Oval, in what is sure to be a fantastic game.