By Tallon Smith

The 2023 Group 4 season is shaping up as another absolute classic as teams turn into the home straight, with six clubs still in finals contention with four rounds to play.

After 10 rounds, the undefeated Moree Boars lead the way on 20 points, followed by Dungowan, Werris Creek, North Tamworth to round out the top 4, with Kootingal and Boggabri still in the hunt. The struggling Gunnedah Bulldogs and Narrabri Blues are out of contention, but continue to fight on.

Group 4 Chairman Terry Psarakis is excited for the finish to the season, and he’s expecting another close one just like last year.

“Moree are [runaway leaders], but second, third and fourth are really tight.

“There’s five sides all fighting for, at this stage, second, third and fourth.”

The surprise packet of 2023 so far has been Werris Creek, who the Chairman reckons are “doing well” in 2023.

“Creek, to their credit, they’ve done well,” he said.

“There was a big game the other day against Dungowan, which Dungowan won, so they’re [Werris Creek] now third.

“They did lose their Captain-Coach Cody Tickle [to injury though].

“I’m pleased they’re doing well.”

The Chairman also revealed that the policy of playing the Grand Final at the home ground of the Major Semi Final winner will remain in place for 2023.

“Moree had us check out their ground to make sure everything was all good [should they host it],” Psarakis said.

“We have looked at playing it at Scully Park, it could have happened had North Tamworth hosted last year.”

One particularly saddening sight in 2023 has been the struggles of the Narrabri Blues, who have won just one single game across all four grades in 2023. However Psarakis says that the club is more resilient than even he expected.

“We were waiting for them to drop out of the comp, it was that bad,” he said of the club’s early season struggles.

“But they’ve got good history, and a new committee.”

Psarakis also shone some light into his future plans during the interview with Battlers For Bush Footy, revealing he plans to step down from the role at the conclusion of the year.

“This is my last year,” he said.

“Hopefully I’m going to leave the Group in a good situation.

“[The] financial [aspect] is not a problem,” he added, something that will no doubt be true given his background as an accountant.

“It’s a good starting point.

“[The Group] is gonna be in good hands.”

In leaving, Psarakis has a few final recommendations which he believes could grow the game even further in the North West. The first of these is to facilitate the return of inter-group representative football.

“There’s talk at the end of the year to play Senior [matches between] Groups 4, 19 and 21,” he said.

“I’d really like to see representative football come back.”

The Chairman also offered his view on the Women’s League Tag versus Tackle debate, affirming his support for the League Tag format, at least in the short term.

“Ladies League Tag is strong,” the Chairman said.

“There’s a push for tackle, but I can’t see that getting up.”

Another highlight has been the strengthening of the Under 18s competition in 2023, something that has been a particular challenge for the Group in recent years. 

“Narrabri, Gunnedah, Moree, Werris Creek, Dungowan and Kootingal [all have Under 18s],” he said.

To conclude, Psarakis summed up his tenure as a pretty enjoyable one.

“Overall I’m very happy with how it is going,” he said.

“It’s far more even than it’s ever been, so that’s a positive.”

From all of us at Battlers For Bush Footy, we’d like to congratulate Terry on his successful tenure as Chairman of Group 4, and we wish him all the best in future endeavours, including his extensive involvement with local cricket in Tamworth.