Bryson Luff

Played at Dunedoo’s Robertson Oval the 2026 Castlereagh League reserve grade grand final had the very good crowd enjoying what was a high quality and thoroughly entertaining game of rugby league played out between the Coonabarabran Unicorns and the Gulgong Bull Terriers.

With an encouraging wind behind them the Unicorns got off to a flyer and after just four minutes they were up six nil with a converted try to their half Jarvis Watton.

Not long after winger Sonny-Bill Walker weaved his way through a number of would-be
defenders and it was 10-0 to the Unicorns.

Struggling to get out of their own half the Terriers were rewarded when they first made an incursion into the oppositions red zone when Duncan O’Leary crashed over 20 minutes into the first half for a try that was converted and then followed not long after by a Brad Toole barge over try after the ball was spun wide and it was game on at 10-all, that being the half time score.

Fourteen minutes into the second half it seemed that it was game over after the Unicorns had raced in three rapid fire tries and the scoreboard read 26-10 in their favour.

However, then the momentum shifted to the Terriers and with their hooker, Ethan Parsons, going over for a double, both converted, with just five minutes remaining and the scoreboard reading 26-22 it was a grandstand finish that had the crowd well and truly willing their sides on.

It is history now that the Unicorns were able to hang on during those final frantic minutes to claim the premiership shield after what was a game that was a great advertisement for
Castlereagh Rugby League.

COONABARABRAN 26 (Jarvis Watton, Jake Deshon, Silver Bunner, Brandon Worrell, Sonny Bill Walker tries) DEFEATED GULGONG 22 (Ethan Parsons 2, Duncan O’Leary, Brad Toole tries, James Morrison 2, Caiden Horton goals). Half time 10-all.

Roos ruin Roosters’ run

The Coolah Kangaroos ended the Cobar Roosters’ unbeaten run in 2026 when they downed them 18-10 after hard-fought game at Coolah.

Not only did Coolah’s win put a dent in the Rooster’s favouritism to win the 2026 Castlereagh Premiership it also made a statement that the Kangaroos are not going to relinquish their back-to-back premiership titles, and their quest for a threepeat without a fight.

Their win elevates them to fourth spot on the ladder after the Dunedoo Swans went down 53-20 against the Narromine Jets at Narromine and whilst the loss is not terminal for the Swans, it does put them under pressure to retain fifth spot.

That pressure will come from Coonamble this Saturday, with the Bears being a tough ask on their home ground, especially following their narrow loss to Gilgandra last Saturday.

Playing at Gilgandra the Bears were well in command leading 28 to 12 mid-way through the second half, but somehow in the last 14 minutes the Panthers managed to storm home and claimed the lead for the first time in the match with just two minutes remaining to record a 32-28 victory.

In the other first grade game Coonabarabran were way too strong for the Warren Bulldogs,
winning 72-12.

On the League tag front the Dunedoo Swannettes now remain the only undefeated team in any of the 2026 Castlereagh League competitions.

Whilst the Coolah Flyers looked locked in for second position on the ladder the remaining three spots in the top five look likely to be fought out by Narromine, Gulgong, Cobar and Gilgandra.