MOREE Boars ladies tackle team ran in 12 tries and seven goals against a gallant Wee Waa Panthers outfit at Boughton Oval on Friday night, with referee Matt Roberts calling the mercy rule 10 minutes from full-time.

The 62-nil cakewalk in front of a huge home crowd gave the Moree ladies their third win on the trot in the new tackle competition, and strengthened their confidence as they head to Tamworth next weekend to play Kootingal at the three-day NSWRL Regional Magic Round at Scully Park.

The Boars were relentless, with captain Kaya Williams – told two years ago she’d never play football again after suffering a serious knee injury – grounding the ball seven times.

Leila Murray, Gab Suckling, Tara Newman, Daharna Wightman and Trudy Sharpley each scored tries, with Sharpley landing five goals and Suckling, two.

“It felt good, especially after coming back from injury,” Williams said.

“I tore all the ligaments in my knee in 2023 and was basically told not to play again.

“My first year back with tag was in 2024 and my first contact games have been this year – it feels great.

“And it’s really good to see all the supporters get behind us, and good to go from tag to tackle. It can only get stronger next year,” she said.

Moree Boars captain Kaya Williams grounded the ball seven times against Wee Waa Panthers at Boughton Oval on Friday night.

Coach Chris Swan, who played for 10 years in the Newcastle A-grade competition before returning home to Moree, praised the Wee Waa side.

“It’s a credit to Wee Waa for coming over and playing a night game, but our girls are just at another level than they are at the moment,” Swan said.

Swan expects Wee Waa – as well as all teams in the new competition – to improve and develop as the season goes forward.

“Wee Waa has always been a football town – a really strong football town – and it’s just a matter of getting more girls involved and strengthening up numbers a bit,” Swan said.

“We’ll see all the teams pick up and get a lot better as the footie progresses.”

Swan said the girls’ hard work was paying dividends, and puts them in good stead for next weekend’s Magic Round at Tamworth.

“They played well,” Swan said.

“We’ve been working hard at training, which is good. The girls have been putting in the effort during the week, and doing what they need to do on game day. It’s all paying off for them, and it’s been a good team effort.”

Moree’s reputation as a rugby league town is underpinned by the numbers turning up to train each week.

“We’ve got 25 or 26 players in the squad – plenty of players – and everyone has been getting a go,” Swan said.

The ladies will now concentrate on their clash with Kootingal Roosters at Tamworth.

They defeated the Roosters 10-8 last week in drenching conditions, after leading 10-nil at half-time.

“Kootingal has got a really good team – a big team – with four or five rep players. They’ll be hard to beat, and it will be a different game on a dry paddock,” Swan said.

“But our girls have been going really well, and they keep improving.

“It’ll be a big weekend in Tamworth – all the girls are excited.

“We’ll get three training sessions in this week to get them ready, and turn up at Tamworth and give it our best shot,” he said.

Moree Boars first-grade, reserve-grade and under-18s take on Gunnedah Bulldogs at Gunnedah tomorrow, Sunday, May 4.