by Tallon Smith

Best Articles of 2022 #5

AFTER an extended period of recess, the Goodooga Magpies have completed a fairytale return to the Barwon Darling Rugby League competition with a nailbiting 27-26 triumph over undefeated local powerhouse Bourke Warriors.

Goodooga, a town of just 247 people, struggled to overcome the Bourke Warriors juggernaut all year, but persistence and hard work paid off for the Magpies who ended a premiership drought stretching back to their 1988 victory over Bourke.

The Magpies’ win continues the trend of community competitions being won by clubs who have returned from recess, with Narrandera achieving a similar feat just two weekends ago, albeit after five years back into regular football.

Goodooga’s Robert Lane described the feeling as being one “you can’t put into words.”

“We live and breathe football in Goodooga,” he remarked.

Out of “200 people…only about 5 people were left in the town [while the game was on].”

Lane was fully aware of the magnitude of the achievement, who explained “there’s people that left Tamworth at four o’clock this morning to come watch their hometown in a Grand Final…Dubbo [as well].”

“it’s 34 years since we did exactly the same thing to Bourke,” he said, after history repeated itself with an undefeated Bourke side falling to the Magpies.

Lane described the match as a “battle all the way through,” as Goodooga led 23-22 in the closing stages and scored to extend the lead to five points, before Bourke hit back.

“Bourke score on the bell, but missed the goal right near the uprights,” he said. A pitch invasion followed, as people running so fast that “Usain Bolt wouldn’t catch [them]” signalled the end of 34 years of waiting for the Goodooga community;

Lane also informed Battlers For Bush Footy of a unique storyline hidden within the victory.

“Uncle Kevin Hooper won a premiership at 49…[and his 17 year old] son Lincoln Wood won a premiership with him,” he explained.

Lane also said that for the first time in years, he saw the once ubiquitous sight of kids playing football on the town’s Magpie Park, with nurturing juniors an important thing he said the club needs to remain alive for.

“We want to push them away to further their career,” he said.

In the Ladies Blues Tag decider, the Walgett Dragons held firm for

a 24-12 victory over a gallant Lightning Ridge Redbacks side while the Under 18s match saw the Brewarrina Golden Googars thrash Walgett 32-4.

Brewarrina also won the Under 15s title 34-20 over Lightning Ridge, while the Under 15 Blues Tag finale contested by the same clubs saw a 28-14 victory again for the Googars.