Liam Hatch and Logan Howard: Duo have been standouts for Kooty

Their damaging runs and rock-solid defence has been a highlight, with Logan punishing in some of his hits on rival edge back-rowers and centres.

They are good mates and love to stir up friends and rivals with their own brand of shiacking.

Read also:

They have also handed Group 4 Media plenty of humorous blasts over the season and continued to do so when G4 Media encountered the pair at the Longyard Hotel in Tamworth on Wednesday night.

G4 Media was there to enter the NRL tips for the week and caught up with the pair of larrikins for a quick refreshment.

It was also a chance to wish Hatch a happy birthday. He turned 22 on Thursday.

He's had two seasons with the Roosters after the former Oxley High student played a season at Dungowan.

"Played second-row at Dungowan and in my first year with Kooty too," Hatch said. "[I've] put on about 10kg this year."

Moving to centre has been good for Hatch and Kooty, as he has scored nine tries and sits equal fourth on the try-scoring table with his teammate Jordan Sharpe.

Another teammate, fellow centre Ryley Mackay, is top of the table, equal with North Tamworth's Fijian flyer Tevita Peceli on 13 tries.

"It's been great," Hatch said of the move to centre.

"[Kooty coach Geoff Sharpe] asked me to have ago there and it's worked out well so far. Logan does all my tackling. That's good."

Howard, 25, replied: "He scores all my tries."

"He also got me a job at Transport NSW too," Howard added.

Hatch worked in administration at Roads and Maritime, but is now at Transport NSW.

Kootingal-Moonbi play Narrabri in a top-of-the-table clash at Narrabri on Sunday.

Kooty lead Narrabri by a point.

"They are always tough out there," Howard said. "They lift a gear at home."

"If we beat them," he continued, "I think we'll win the minor premiership."

Howard is in his third season of first grade with the Roosters.

His father, Dave, played for the club 30 years back and he was also at the Longyard having a couple of beers to wash down a busy day.

He was free with his advice for his son and Hatch, and ready for a joke and friendly ribbing as well.

Hatch said the Roosters loss to North Tamworth in the 2019 grand final had been pivotal to the side's development.

"Yeah, I feel as if any team gets in front of us, there's no point where we think we're going to lose the match," he said. "We always think we can win."

"Everyone does their job when it counts," Howard added.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: