The Harden-Murrumburrah Junior Rugby League Club has completed another wonderful year of junior football in the Northern Pool of Group 9 Junior League. With 16 sides hitting the field each week, ranging in ages from under 6’s to 16’s, it has been a busy but successful season, with all competitive sides making the first week of finals.
The Under 13’s Bush Hawks (joint-venture team with Boorowa) went all the way to the Grand Final, winning in a thrilling 12-10 game over the Temora Dragons, coming back from a 10-0 deficit. Best on field was Harden player Beau Manwaring, who was awarded the Rick Keast Medal for his outstanding performance. The team backed up the following weekend to play in the Group 9 Grand Championship, unfortunately falling just short to the Wagga Kangaroos.
Not to be outdone by the boys, the under 14’s Girls tackle side won the final at the Girls Tackle Gala Day held in Harden and Roberts Park a few weekends ago. The Bush Hawks entered two tackle sides – 12’s and 14’s – and competed in a round-robin style carnival against teams from as far away as Griffith.
The Under 12’s played 3 competitive games, with many girls having never played tackle football until the 2026 season.
The Under 14 girls went into the final against the Young Cherry Pickers, who had gotten the better of them earlier in the day. At full-time, the teams were locked at 8 all, sending the game into extra time. The Bush Hawks finally crossed the line in a nail-biter to seal the victory 12-8 and claiming the Tara McGrath-West Plate.
Girls tackle has grown in recent years, with 12’s, 14’s & 16’s fielding sides under the Bush Hawks and on Saturdays some girls are playing more football than the boys. With local girls playing in the NRLW, it’s not hard to see why it’s becoming more popular.
Last Saturday, the Harden-Murrumburrah Junior Rugby League & Boorowa Rugby League Clubs celebrated the fantastic season with their end-of-year Presentation Day, where players are awarded for their efforts on the field, and volunteers are recognised for the hard work throughout the season. The Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all players, parents, coaches, referees, canteen volunteers, game day helpers and all who volunteered their time during the 2026 season. See you back for more great footy in 2027.
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