MOREE Boars will run on three teams at Boughton Oval on Saturday – women’s tackle, under-18s and reserve-grade – and club president Todd Mitchell is confident the club will start the 2025 Group 4 season on top of their game under new coaches across all grades.

The Boars first-grade outfit, which plays its first game this season against Werris Creek the week after Easter, will this year be coached by club stalwarts Jamie Sampson and Jack Durheim – and Mitchell couldn’t be happier.

The coaching partnership was confirmed late last year, with the announcement premiership-winning captain-coach Mick Watton, who shared duties with Alex Barker, was transferring to Tamworth for work reasons.

“Jack and Jamie took a lot out of playing the last couple of years under Mick and Alex  – they watched a lot – and are now carrying that through,” Mitchell said.

“They’ve watched and learned and brought that to this season. Not much has really changed this year and it’s business as usual for the Boars.

“Mick (Watton) is a very smart footballer and really switched on. He’s a really brainy footballer and has passed on a lot of knowledge.

“This year will be much the same as last year. Jamie and Mick are very similar, and so are Alex and Jack. It’s pretty much a similar combination as last year,” Mitchell said.

For five-eighth Jamie Sampson, named Player of the Grand Final last year, the coaching  appointment is well-deserved, Mitchell said.

“Jamie has been around footie for a long time in Moree,” he said.

“He came through junior league, went to Farrer, and came back to Moree and played a bit of rugby in between.

“But his game is league and he’s done really well so far this year coaching.

“We’re getting the biggest numbers in training I’ve seen in years, because we won the grand-final, of course, but I also think it’s a reflection on Jack and Jamie and their personalities.

“They’re driven, and the players respect them. Jamie is a footballer through and through. He’s passionate and he’s got a good footie brain. Everyone respects him and he leads by example,” he said.

(from left) Boars first-grade co-coach Jamie Sampson, under-18s co-coach Brent McDonald, first-grade co-coach Jack Durheim, and club president Todd Mitchell at Boars training this week (absent: girls tackle coach Chris Swan, under-18s co-coach Joe Wade, reserves coach Alf Newman and reserves team manager Charlie Shearer).

Mitchell said Durheim was laid-back, with a brain for rugby league – a smart thinker.

“Jack’s been around footie for a really long time, and so has his family. His dad was a good footballer and his uncle played for the Gold Coast Chargers,” Mitchell said.

“Jack played for the Titans in the Toyota Cup. He’s a good bloke. Everyone likes him and is a very, very smart forward.

“In fact, having a forward and a back as co-coaches is really good. Jamie will look after the backs and Jack will look after the forwards,” he said.

Moree sports luminary Alf Newman, who next week travels to Mackay to play cricket in a landmark over-50s Aboriginal team in a trans-Tasman tri-series against Australia and New Zealand, has been named reserve-grade coach, with Charlie Shearer signed on as team manager.

“Everyone likes Alf and the catch here is, everyone will want to play for him,” Mitchell smiled.

“He’s very well respected in the community and he’s been around rugby league a long time – and cricket, for that matter.

“I’ve never heard a bad word said about Alf. Everyone respects him. He was a good football player and has got plenty of knowledge. He’ll pass that down to reserve-grade,” he said.

“Charlie has a long family history with Moree Boars through his grandfather and uncles, and Charlie played himself,” Mitchell said.

“He’s very passionate, and has been through a bit lately. I think it’s great that he’s getting out and putting up his hand to help Alfie.

“Charlie’s happy-go-lucky and nothing is ever a problem for him. Alfie and Charlie will work well together, and it’s good to have the Shearer name involved – they’re part of the club,” he said.

Brent McDonald and Joe Wade, both stand-out players in last year’s first-grade grand-final have been named co-coaches for Moree Boars under-18s.

“Brent and Joe are both passionate,” Mitchell said.

“When they played footie for the Boars, they went through the tough times, the time times when we hit rock-bottom.

“They’ve seen all that and they’ve seen the highs and the lows. I think they’re the perfect boys to have coaching the under-18s – they’re gritty and they’re tough.”

Mitchell likens McDonald and Wade to Stan Swan, who coached the under-18s a couple of years ago.

“Stan did a great job and these boys will do the same,” Mitchell said.

“Brent and Joe are Moree Boars through and through. They love the club and will instil a lot into the juniors. They’ll pass that down, and that’s why there were appointed.”

Moree Boars women’s tackle team, coached by former Newcastle player Chris Swan, make an historic debut on Saturday.

Mitchell said Swan was an invaluable acquisition for the club.

“Chris played in Newcastle at  a pretty high level and was one of the better half-backs around country rugby league for a long time,” Mitchell said.

“He’s a smart footballer and brings a lot of knowledge to the team. Chris played for the Boars 25 years ago and he’s very switched on – he knows his footie.”

Words and Image: Bill Poulos

To read an earlier interview with Todd Mitchell and his views on the year ahead, go to: All the president’s men – and women – hungry for another premiership

To read about history-creating Moree Boars ladies tackle team, go to: Moree Boars’ ladies tackle ready to rumble