Almanac Rugby: Lions maul Bulls; farm productivity collapses on the Liverpool Plains

 

 

 

 

Farm and related service sector productivity has collapsed in the southeast of the Liverpool Plains following the Quirindi Lions thrashing of the favoured Moree Bulls in the Central North Rugby Union (CNRU) Grand Final last Saturday, 6 September.

“You wouldn’t want them anywhere near machinery – they’re still going hard,” said one employer of several Lions players last Monday. More celebrations are planned this weekend.

The rise of the Quirindi Lions from cellar dweller to dominator in five years (four plus Covid when there was no comp) has got it all: redemption and the breaking of a 33-year premiership drought; thrashing the Moree Bulls at citadel Moree which is akin to Lang Park in the mungo’s code; doing it in Quirindi Lions style which is based on elan and having fun as central to this players’ club.

 

The platform

The Lions have been around since 1956 and have won 5 flags in 69 years (65, 66, 68, 92 and 25). I was at the 1992 victory against Moree and it was a tidy performance. Every time the Bulls tried to break out they were shut down by powerful forwards including the former Wallaby David Carter. I spoke to Dave today and he said that the Lions of 92 never played as well as the 25 pride did last Saturday. “They were magnificent,” he said. “Moree,” he added; “were like the bloke that fell out of the boat, they weren’t in it”. On point our Carts.

The reformation started in 2020 with a new coach and club captain, Tom Koertz and James Davison who recruited key players to the club.  Previously the Lions had had trouble putting together a second grade side and weren’t competitive in first grade. The bedrock of the Club has always been Quirindi juniors as they either graduated to the Under 18 ranks or went away from the district and played at a higher level and returned to the Lions. In the premiership side there were 2 from the Under 18s. These blokes Sam Avard, Lachie Bradfield and a third, Brodie Nankivell (they’re everywhere those Nankies) before he got injured, were pivotal to the resurgence of the Lions. Nine Juniors played in the premiership side which underscores the stability and growth of the club. The Lions have always benefited from the tireless efforts of club stalwarts who stood by the club in the lost years and can now share in the glory alongside the players. Geoff Barwick who, every week, in home and away games climbs onto the top of clubhouses and livestreams the games, is one. Another is Clive Pursehouse who has  toiled in the preparation of the ground and keeping the infrastructure going. Geoff said last Saturday that it was one of the best days of his life. Clive was trembling with joy. Well played fellas.

The momentum was interrupted in 2020 by Covid but the nucleus stayed together and in 2022 and 2023 additional talent and experience joined the club. The joiners since 20 represented a new echelon of player who had returned to the region after working in Sydney or other metropolitan areas due to the pull of the opportunities in and around the Liverpool Plains. In 24/25 additional returners arrived after stints at University, as skilled tradespeople or working in agricultural service companies and playing at a high level. Jack Parfitt, the coach in 23 and 24, became co-playing coach in 25 as tighthead prop as he returned to be with family. Jack has played at representative level in Hong Kong and the UK and added another dimension of power to the front row. He combined his tactical smarts with Daniel Calavassy the former Sydney University no 9 and rep player in their twin role of co-coaches and captains. Dan and his brother Pat came to the club because of the investment opportunities in the region and were drawn to the Lions because of the ethos.  Key ingredients of success were being moulded.  Quirindi also showed its flair for doing it differently and with style by appointing a player president – the ebullient Edward Nankivell who had previously coached in 21 became pres in 22. He worked to put the pieces of talent into a self supporting team. Not your figurehead type president but an engaged and respected bloke who is in the engine room and leading the charges week in week out.

It is interesting to draw parallels between the 92 and 25 sides. The 92 side had significant high level representative, Sydney club and suburban comp experience and also several players who had played league. The captain, Dave Carter, was a Wallaby in 88-89. They had serious physicality and were determined to win in 92 as they had been narrowly beaten in 91. The 25 side also had the same levels of comparative experience. Last year the 25 side did not make the finals but they reckon they were dudded by ref decisions going against them. They also had a relatively high rate of send offs for infringements due to exuberance rather than malice. The Lions learned and kept moving forward.

The club has a reputation for straight shooting and no dickheads.

In the home and away round the Lions lost away games to two of the teams that they would later monster in the semis and the grand final. The last game of the season was at home against Gunnedah which we lost by one point largely due to the absence of 4 key players. Not through injury but leisure pursuits. One missing player got the date of the bye mixed up and went on holidays and the other 3 went to see the Wallabies play.  The club’s attitude was prescient in hindsight.  First, the line was that if they don’t play they won’t get injured (although the holiday maker Jack Craig did spend several days avoiding a tsunami in Hawaii) and, second, we’ll nail Gunnedah in the semis.  In the AFL, its called being managed. Lions going out wide again.

 

The semis

Mark Bode, the Northern Daily Leader sportswriter, who plied his trade with distinction during the year, commented; “When you dispense with the cliches and examine the Quirindi Lions purely on the dominating minor semifinal victory over reigning premiers Narrabri, 36-12, you see a high functioning outfit playing to their potential”. It was the first minor semi for Quirindi since 2016.

Mark and our club oracles understood the momentum that the Lions were generating with powerful and clinical displays of forward pressure from a dominant pack, frenetic tackling across the pitch, hard running centres and pace out wide. Narrabri scored first. Then the Lions kicked into gear. They camped inside Narrabri’s 22 for a long time before converted tries to Sam Avard and Ed Nankivell. Narrabri then responded in the 28^th minute to get close at 14-12.  The Lions executed their signature counterattack as they went up a notch via the combination of a demoralising tight head in the scrum, more hard tackling, hard running centres and slick passing  that resulted in a further two tries from number 8 Hamish Dunbar and winger Tom Clare. I’ve dubbed Tom the smiling assassin as he grins away off the play and also when carrying the ball and breaking opposition hearts with blinding pace out wide. 29-12 at half time. The Lions were dictating play and kept Narrabri scoreless in the second half.  A final try in the 72^nd from Nick Hooley was a ripper. No short side or pushover stuff this time. Nick, a solid unit but powerful runner, started to motor about 20 metres behind the breakdown as the Lions were once again threatening Narrabri’s line and was full bore when a Calavassy bullet hit him and he went through a motionless defence to the delight of the crowd. Another play executed to perfection. One down, two to go.

Next was the Gunnedah Red Devils who were chasing their first flag for 55 years. Quirindi again turned it on in front of the Gunnedah home crowd who were stunned by the dominance of the Lions. Gunnedah succumbed to a combination of powerful forwards, scrum dominance, savage tackling and big mobile centres who can kick like the Daicos boys. The Lions were 15-0 at half time before the Calavassy boys let loose. Dan, the number 9, was turning it on with directed passes to his outside runners, shifted tack when he ran from the short side and split the defence from the scrum. Brother Pat crossed for another in the 70^th minute. Game over. Two late tries to Gunnedah softened the margin to 30-21 but it was another superb display from the Lions as they further honed their game plan and style.

 

The big dance

If the Lions wanted to use the underdog status as a motivator they certainly had plenty of material. Moree is a large and wealthy club with 85 registered players and 11 premierships. They are rather fond of themselves.  Grist to the mill for the Quirindi coaches’ narrative. It’s a 3-4 hour drive to Moree from Quirindi and environs. It didn’t worry the Lions supporters. Over 300 turned up and were loud and effervescent as they sensed what could happen if the lads clicked. Moree ran on first through the gauntlet of the Moree seconds who had just won their grand final plus the odd club official. The Lions entrance showed that we do things differently and in merry prankster style.  (See below a video of the entrance). Supporters formed a long tunnel that stretched over half the width of the pitch. First the bagpipes, followed by Quirindi Juniors and then the players who were walking calmly not sprinting onto the ground as is usually the case. Continuity and recognition were displayed. First the continuity between the 92 and the 25 teams was recognised as Grayson Gulliver the number 9 in the 92 side was the pipes player.  His son Charlie is the number 15 in the 25 side. Second the recognition of the role of the Juniors in the club was displayed as they led the team out.

 

Quirindi entrance video GF 2025

 

There was a sense among the Lions faithful that something big was going to happen. It did. (See below the link to the video of the tries). From the opening minute when Charlie Gulliver crossed in the corner, the Lions dominated across the park and Moree struggled to match. Ed Nankivell and Dan Calavassy added another two inside the first 10 minutes. Clive Pursehouse told me that he had the best time watching the game with his Moree mates after years of humble pie. No pie today as redemptions were complete. When the Lions ran in 3 tries on 10 minutes the Moree good old boys intoned that now it was the Bulls’ turn to restore order as Lions will fade. Clive said; ”No they won’t”, as the rampage continued with a try from the lock Tom, the horse, Willson with massive support from the flanker Tom Wake. Then a stroll-over try from a rolling maul from Jack Parfitt resulted in a 38-15 lead at the break. In the first minute of the second half, number 14 Luke Marsh crossed under the post courtesy of pressure from the forwards, support at breakdowns and again, intense tackling. The next try was when the smiling assassin Tom Clare intercepted a pass on the wing right in front of the Moree crowd and ran half the field to drop under the post and convert – grinning from ear to ear. The Quirindi faithful were ecstatic. Moree fans were stunned.

Next a beautifully weighted kick from Jack Craig from the centres to the corner and slick throw in resulted in another try to Dan Calavassy. He repeated the dose shortly after. Moree managed to get two tries midway through the second half but they weren’t in it. As the countdown started the lions supporters chanted loudly Lyyyons,  Lyyyons, Lyyyons. When the whistle went, wild scenes followed as Lions supporters from mothers and babies, toddlers and the faithful invaded the pitch. Dan Calavassy was awarded man of the match for his three tries and brilliant work at number 9.

Jack Parfitt who added much to the scrum and on field power when he became player coach in 25 summed it by saying; “When we finished third we had to do it the hard way- Quirindi style. We out enthuse other teams, we play for 80 minutes and we hit hard. This is huge achievement for a special bunch of guys”.

Billy Wilson, one of the clubs revered elders, said it was the best game he’s ever seen.  With many of the team going round next year, Billy might be in for a few more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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